The demand for workers in Montenegro’s tourism sector remains exceptionally high this year, while the domestic workforce is in short supply. The government is attempting to address this issue with a new Law on Permanent Seasonal Workers, but the details of the draft law are still unknown. The Union of Free Trade Unions expresses support for the law and hopes it will help retain workers in the tourism industry within Montenegro. On the other hand, hoteliers are concerned that the government might transfer the costs of permanent seasonal workers to employers.
The demand for tourism workers is very high again this year. In Budva alone, more than 8,000 seasonal workers are needed. To address this, the government is trying to solve the issue with the Law on Permanent Seasonal Workers.
So far, the Ministry of Labor has been reluctant to reveal much about the draft law, as confirmed by our own inquiries when we did not receive the requested responses. On the other hand, the Union of Free Trade Unions has more details.
Srđa Keković from the Union of Free Trade Unions explains that the new Law on Permanent Seasonal Workers would ensure workers’ insurance throughout the year.
“Under the new law, their work or pension history would be linked. They would have the same rights as if they were employed, even during the off-season. They would receive compensation, which is currently projected at 120% of the calculated coefficient value, approximately 108 EUR,” Keković said.
Additionally, he explained that permanent seasonal workers would not lose social assistance while waiting for the next season.
“Their obligation would be to return and work for the same employer the following season and continue their permanent seasonal contract. The contract can last from a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 8 months. During this period, contributions for extended insurance would be paid,” he added.
Keković emphasized that the new law is designed to encourage seasonal workers to stay in Montenegro and reduce their migration abroad.
On the other hand, hoteliers support the legal solution but are skeptical about its effectiveness. They are concerned that the government may shift the costs of permanent seasonal workers to employers.
Hotelier Žarko Radulović stated that the new law raises many unknowns.
“The question is, when they are not working, who pays? They can’t just sit at home without money waiting for me to call them. They must have some income. In Slovenia, for example, the government regulated this. In Croatia, it hasn’t been successful. There, almost no successes have been seen, but Slovenia has had some success,” Radulović said.
He added that there needs to be a strategic approach and an effort to educate the workforce, which, according to him, employers are willing to support.
“We need to educate our people, to skip the middle management, and turn them into specialists. We need to train them to become excellent chefs, who can work here, in New York, or Tokyo. That is the right path,” Radulović said.
In Montenegro, the most sought-after positions are for chefs, waiters, bartenders, grill workers, housekeepers, and servers. As the domestic workforce becomes increasingly scarce, it is expected that workers from Albania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina will fill these roles again this year.
