Trade union of metalworkers request higher wages and changes of the Law on labour
- Trade union of metalworkers request higher wages and changes of the Law on labour
- Post By daniloc
- 11:23, 26 mart, 2002

Union of metalworkers requested today the payment of due allowances and increase of wages for metalworkers, passing of the program of development of this branch of industry and changes in the Law on labour.
These requests would be directed to the minister of economy, Darko Uskokovic and Chamber of trade of Montenegro.
The Union also requested tying-up of working years for employees as of June 2000, payment of severance pay, cancellation of the institute #job waiting#, privatisation of metal-processing companies and its public and transparent privatisation.
"Government and Chamber of trade must pass long-term development plans for metal industry because it takes the most significant place in Montenegrin export. There are about 150 companies in passive strike - where workers come to work, but have nothing to work at," said president of the Union of metalworkers, Dragan Mijanovic.
He estimated that present situation in economy was #catastrophic# and added that it used to employ about 165,000 workers in 1989, while this year it was the number of only 110,000 workers. In the meantime, the number of workers in non-industrial sector has been increased from 24,000 to 38,000.
Union members claim that Contract of employment should be deleted from the Law whose proposal has recently been withdrawn from parliamentary procedure for finishing.
"Present Contract of employment brings workers to a very unfavourable position because it proposes temporary employment. That means that the employee can leave workers without a job through refusing to prolong the contract," explained president of the trade union of Adriatic Shipyard, Emina Hulic.
Union of metalworkers would apply pressure on managements of the companies to increase the labour price by new collective agreements.
Representatives of Obod from Cetinje and Petoljetka from Bijelo Polje proposed organization of general strike if the government does not fulfil requests of the Union, but this initiative has not been discussed.
Minister of economy, Darko Uskokovic, has not been present at today#s meeting because of a meeting in the Government. However, it has also been stated that he has not attended any of the meetings of this union in the last three months, in spite of the invitations sent.
"In case Uskokovic does not attend the next meeting, we shall request his resignation," said president of the Union of Obod, Vojo Vujovic.