Union: Hundreds of jobs will be cut in the gaming industry

The union of employees in the gaming industry in Montenegro has announced that it will organize protests because new amendments to the Gaming Law will lead to the elimination of 30 percent of jobs in this industry.

The new amendment to the Law on Games of Chance, proposed by PES MPs Seid Hadžić and Tonći Janović, provides for a ban on the operation of branches within a 150-meter radius of any educational institution, which, given their number, covers most of the cities. Until now, this ban applied to primary and secondary schools, and now also to kindergartens and other educational institutions.

The Union states that, given the overlapping distances between these institutions, this will lead to the closure of branches in a large number of settlements, which will lead to the dismissal of 30 percent of employees in this industry, which has 3.500 workers.

"The Union of Employees in the Gaming Industry in Montenegro welcomes the Government's intention to improve the legislative framework of this industry and thus contribute to better regulation of the market. However, in light of the announced legal restrictions, we, as employees in the gaming industry in Montenegro, are facing major challenges that directly affect our economic stability and future. Therefore, the Union of Employees in this industry expresses deep concern about the proposed amendments to the Law on Gaming, and especially about the amendment that could significantly limit business and jeopardize jobs. Believing in the best intentions of MPs Seid Hadžić and Tonći Janović when they submitted the amendment proposing that facilities for organizing lottery and special games of chance be at least 150 meters away from preschool institutions, we cannot help but notice that 3.500 employees in this industry and their livelihoods have not been taken into consideration at all. This amendment, although seemingly aimed at protecting young people (which is questionable considering the age of preschool institutions), could have catastrophic consequences for the gaming industry and us employees. Namely, the schedule of preschool institutions in the cities of Montenegro is such that the adoption of this amendment could actually prevent the work of many business entities or business units of these business entities, and lead directly to the loss of several hundred jobs, which the submitters of the amendment did not even take into account. The current assessment of the Union is that 30% of jobs in this industry will be lost," the union said in a statement.

They believe that this is a norm that is not the result of a previous comprehensive analysis, either in economic or social terms, nor has it been viewed in the context of its actual achievements in protecting the public interest for which it was proposed.

"The employees' union requests that this norm be withdrawn from further procedures, and that space be opened for a genuine dialogue between the proposer, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, the organizers and workers' representatives. We particularly warn that this measure calls into question the constitutionally guaranteed rights to work and social security. We remind decision-makers that behind every job is a worker, a family, a livelihood and a contribution to the state budget through taxes and contributions. We cannot help but notice that companies are allowed to organize games of chance with only one employee, and that the type of organization that generates a significant number of jobs is less acceptable to decision-makers. The conclusion is that at the end of the day, more attention is paid to the interests of big business than to the interests of workers. Esteemed representatives of the competent institutions, this is not just a legal act, but an issue of elementary social justice," the statement said.

This union announces that, in the event that these appeals are ignored, they will use all available democratic and institutional means to protect workers' rights, including addressing the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, as well as organizing public protests in front of the Parliament of Montenegro, in which employees in this industry will participate.

"We believe that the members of the Parliament of Montenegro, and especially the creators of this amendment, Messrs. Hadžić and Janović, as well as the relevant Minister Vuković, will recognize the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for the voice of workers to be heard and respected. Passing a law without considering the consequences for people who live and feed their families from their work cannot be considered responsible management, and the legal solution that leads to it cannot be considered good and sustainable. Employees in the gaming industry are not statistics, they are citizens of Montenegro, taxpayers, consumers and parents. Their existence must not be collateral damage of political messages that are not supported by an analysis of the real effect. We call on all competent and responsible parties to urgently stop the adoption of such solutions and to initiate a comprehensive dialogue. We believe that Montenegro can simultaneously protect the public interest of this industry and the dignity of its workers," the union said in a statement.