Money paid to more than 40 former employees of "Košuta"

The money for salaries to the former workers of the Cetinje factory "Košuta" has been paid for 40 to 50 of them so far, and we expect that by the middle of next year the obligations towards all 693 bankrupts will be fulfilled. In addition, I believe that an agreement will be signed at the beginning of 2025 in order to link the length of service and pension conditions for 86 of them.

This is what Petar Martinović, the lawyer of the "Košuta" workers, told "Vijesta".

This year, groups of bankrupts actively stopped traffic on the Cetinje - Podgorica section and protested in front of the Government building, so that 693 former workers would receive nine unpaid salaries and connection of seniority, in the amount of 2.806.650 euros. In 1996, bankruptcy proceedings were opened in "Košuta", which ended on June 14, 2001, during which the workers' claims were not paid.

Martinović explained that the procedures were slower because the documentation for the workers is submitted partially, due to the volume of paperwork.

"Between 40 and 50 requests have currently been paid, and we expect that the money will be paid for all workers by the middle of next year. Each solution is processed individually, which is why it takes more time, and in parallel, extensive documentation is submitted for each worker, which must to be analyzed in detail. The signing of the agreement on combining the seniority of 86 workers is expected at the beginning of next year, which would provide them with the conditions for retirement, and everything will cost around 2,8 million euros". said Martinović, who thanked the Department of Social Dialogue, the Labor Fund and the media that followed their protests.

In mid-September, the bankrupts reached an agreement with the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Dialogue, Naida Nišić, and reached an agreement that the Labor Fund, as a guarantee institution, would pay out the money.

However, the Fund told "Vijesti" ten days ago that all the conditions for this have not yet been met, and that the money has not yet been provided. The Ministry of Labor then announced that the Fund has money provided by the budget for this year, which will be used to meet the needs of bankrupts.

"According to the meetings held and the agreements reached, which were attended by representatives of former employees with their attorneys, the Labor Fund has started receiving documentation, after which individual requests will be processed, without waiting for the collection of complete documentation by all former employees." they said at the time from the Ministry.