Montenegro’s Union of Free Trade Unions and Trade Union Confederation have urged the government and the Employers’ Union of Montenegro to sign a new General Collective Agreement (GCA), as talks include raising the value of employee coefficients in the public and private sectors from 90 to 100 euros. The unions say the agreement should be signed as soon as possible to guarantee workers’ rights.
The Social Council’s presidency recently concluded that Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and Employers’ Union representatives should discuss the GCA and state their position on signing it. The meeting was expected by the end of last week but did not take place, according to the information provided by the Social Council.
Union of Free Trade Unions representative Srđa Keković said the unions now expect the government-employer meeting to take place by the end of next week at the latest. “We expect this to happen as soon as possible and simply to have a position,” he said, adding that unions had first expected the agreement to be signed in September and then in October.
Keković warned that if the parties do not meet in the coming days and define the GCA issue, employee representatives will have to find another way for the agreement to take effect and protect workers’ rights.
The Employers’ Union said its consistent and responsible approach to social dialogue had shown its position on negotiations. It also said it had repeatedly called on unions to extend the then-current agreement at least until the end of that year. “The absence of a General Collective Agreement is the responsibility of others, not the Employers’ Union of Montenegro,” it said.
Before concluding a new GCA, the employers’ group said, the parties should assess the announced Euro model or its alternative, along with measures it proposed to protect employers and employees and preserve jobs. It considers signing before those issues are resolved premature.
The Employers’ Union said a new agreement should result from responsible and sustainable social dialogue, rather than increase business obligations while significant changes to the wage and business systems are being announced. Its position leaves the timing of the agreement dependent on clarification of the model and the proposed measures.
