An Employment Model Combining Inclusion and Business
While a large percentage of persons with disabilities, women, youth and the long-term unemployed in Montenegro face significant barriers to finding work, a project funded by European Union funds has demonstrated that the social economy can provide a sustainable solution for both business and society.
Through the “Support Project for the Development of Sustainable Social Enterprises”, worth approximately €100,000, individuals from groups facing greater difficulties in accessing employment were given opportunities to work in social enterprises in Bar, Berane, Cetinje and Herceg Novi. The project was successfully implemented between November 2023 and October 2025 by the Business Start Centre Bar and Caritas Montenegro, with the support of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue.
Although Montenegro has not yet adopted legislation on social entrepreneurship, this model has demonstrated how enterprises can simultaneously generate profit and create social value by employing those who face the greatest challenges in entering the labour market.
As part of the project, training was organised for 30 participants, focusing on enhancing knowledge, skills and entrepreneurial capacities. Ten individuals completed six-month work placements, while eight social enterprises received equipment to improve their working conditions.
As explained by Marko Đelović of Caritas Montenegro, the project’s objective was not only to promote social entrepreneurship but also to provide tangible support to those facing obstacles in accessing the labour market.
“Most of these individuals remained employed even after the project had ended, which is precisely the purpose of creating a sustainable employment model for groups facing greater barriers to employment,” Đelović emphasised.
One example of a successful social enterprise is the Mondo Bianco laundry service in Bar. A particularly important part of the story is the experience of project beneficiary Nenad Ivanović, who is employed there.
“I consider it a positive outcome that I found employment. We wash the laundry, dry it, and iron it. That is what a typical working day looks like. At first it was difficult, but now it is not. I have gained experience and become proficient at the job. I would like to continue working here,” said Ivanović.
Although the concept of social entrepreneurship in Montenegro is still developing, Đelović highlights that there is considerable potential for growth, particularly in the absence of a dedicated legislative framework.
“Social entrepreneurship is not only a matter of legislation but also of the approach adopted by legal entities themselves. It involves giving equal importance to both the enterprise’s economic activities and the social benefits it generates,” Đelović noted.
The Support Project for the Development of Social Enterprises has demonstrated that sustainable employment models can succeed when social responsibility and economic sustainability are combined. Social economy is therefore not merely a European concept on paper, but a genuine opportunity for those on the margins of society to secure their place in the labour market.
