Former workers of the former Cetinje shoe factory "Košuta" broke the traffic blockade on the Cetinje-Podgorica road in Kruševo ždrijelo around 12:11. They planned the blockade from 13 a.m. to XNUMX p.m., but they broke up earlier due to heavy rain, the worker's lawyer Petar Martinović confirmed to "Vijesta".
He previously said that if they are not addressed by anyone in charge, especially the Prime Minister, they are workers Milojko Spajic, ready for radicalization and subsequent hunger strike in front of the government building. The former workers are asking for the payment of nine salaries and the linking of their seniority, after bankruptcy proceedings were initiated in IMO "Košuta" on March 4, 1996, and ended in 2001.
Martinović stated that there are around 700 workers, and that around 2,2 million euros would be needed to pay their claims.
"If someone from the authorities does not speak, specifically Prime Minister Spajić, next Monday the blockade will be for three or four hours, and then the workers will try to stay there the whole day, until someone calls them. The ultimate measure that will be taken is a hunger strike in front of the Government building. The goal is to settle the nine salaries that were properly reported on the day of the opening of the bankruptcy proceedings on March 4, 1996, which were never paid," said Martinović.
"Vijesti" asked the Government, the Ministry of Economic Development (MER) and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MRSS), whether they plan to help or resolve the bankruptcy status of the former "Košuta". Answers came only from MRSS.
From the department he heads Naida Nišić said that they had not had meetings on this issue yet, and that procedures, examination of requests and cooperation with other departments would be forthcoming, after which they would take a position, start discussions and reach conclusions. They stated that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is responsible for the problem of the former employees of "Košuta", but also that there will be some reaction from that department.
"Since this body has on several occasions paid back claims to former employees, it is indisputable that the response, in accordance with the legal procedures and according to the available possibilities, will not be absent in this case either", the MRSS pointed out.
They explained that they are obliged, with the Ministry of Finance and later within the Government, to conduct an analysis of the claims, the justification of the request, and after a complete analysis, take a position and inform the workers and the public.
Martinović stated that the workers failed to settle their claims, even though they are the primary creditors in the bankruptcy proceedings. He explained that there were 1.200 workers, but that almost half of them died in the past 29 years, so now there are about 700. He also claims that the first bankruptcy procedure in Montenegro was opened in "Košuta".
He stated that the bankrupt's salaries were never paid and that the factory was bought in 2014, and Prijestonica, led by the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), sold it for 330 thousand euros. He stated that at that time it was sold for less than 14 euros per square meter.
"Only the land, not the semi-adapted space, was sold for 13,9 euros. The land itself was worth 70 to 80 euros. Prijestonica participated in the purchase with 80, along with four businessmen from Cetinje. During the purchase, the obligation was to employ 140 workers, none of which was fulfilled. Only a dozen workers work in today's Business Center at that location," said Martinović.
He added that the Government previously worked on the solution of the status of former employees Dritan Abazović, while the new executive did not listen to their problems.
At the end of last year, the URA civil movement submitted an amendment to the Bill on the Budget for 2024, with which they demanded that 2,2 million euros be earmarked from the state coffers for bankrupts. The amendment was not adopted then.
Martinović added that it would have been easier to fit the workers into the budget at the very beginning, before it became operational, but that this did not happen.
According to the calculation from that amendment, 350 euros would be needed for the nine remaining salaries in the amount of 700 euros for 2.205.000 workers.
Former employees of "Košuta" protested in front of the government building in mid-2021, and they spoke with the then adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister Filip Adzić. He told them on that occasion that the Government will try to help them, but that it will not happen quickly.
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