The Union of Free Trade Unions (USSCG) called on all decision-makers and political parties to, instead of deepening differences on all grounds, start dealing with creating equal opportunities, reducing the gap between the rich and the poor and strengthening the institutions of the system.
From that labor association, they invited all decision-makers to start dealing with the introduction of responsibility at all levels, the creation of new jobs, and sustainable growth and development.
"The protection of personal and professional dignity and the provision of dignified working conditions and earnings are priority topics that should be addressed by decision-makers. It is high time that social topics take a dominant place in public discourse," said the USSCG.
On the occasion of the World Decent Work Day, which is celebrated tomorrow, the Union said that according to the survey of the labor association from April this year, conducted under the auspices of the International Labor Organization (ILO), over half of all respondents have insecure forms of employment contracts.
"Almost 41 percent of respondents stated that their earnings are not increased based on overtime work, while every fifth respondent points out that they do not use annual vacation, with almost 14 percent of them not even using the corresponding weekly vacation," the statement added.
The Union said that about 14 percent of the respondents pointed out that they were forced to do additional work in order to secure their livelihood, of which only 17,5 percent had a signed contract on additional work.
"A third of respondents are planning or have already undertaken specific activities regarding leaving Montenegro. As the most frequent answer, when it comes to the reasons for leaving Montenegro, adequate salary is convincingly stated, while in second place are better working conditions," the announcement states.
The Union reminded that the price of labor in Montenegro, from 2007 to today, has increased by only five euros, that is, from 55 euros to 60,3 euros.
"The minimum salary in Montenegro as of October 1 this year is 250 euros, and the minimum consumer basket is around 650 euros, excluding housing costs," the Union specified.
A total of 55 unemployed people are registered in the records of the Employment Service (ZZZ), while around 40 people work illegally.
"On average, employees in Montenegro work 44,5 hours a week, and most of them are not paid at all, or only partially, for that work. "23,6 percent of citizens live on the poverty line," said the Union.
In that workers' association, they believe that social dialogue is undergoing a special examination, and anti-union discrimination is still present.
"Citizens' distrust in the institutions of the system is obvious and worrying. There is no accountability system at all levels. All these data characterize a country that aspires to become the next full member of the European Union (EU), so the question arises as to how close or far we are from that goal," the announcement concludes.
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