Pljevlja caterers have asked the local government to include funds in next year's budget to subsidize the salaries of their employees, in order to retain their workforce and survive.
This request, as they emphasized at a meeting with local government leaders, is just part of a broader struggle for the private sector to keep up with industry, which has been taking over almost all of the city's skilled workforce in recent years.
President of the Municipality Dario Vranes He announced that he would prepare the first support measures, saying that the goal is to facilitate the operations of the private sector.
He said that the Coal Mine and the Thermal Power Plant "withdrawn most of the workforce and thus shut down small businesses in Pljevlja."
"We are here for the citizens, not the citizens for us," said Vraneš.
Without subsidies, claim caterers, they will not be able to bring their salaries closer to municipal and state salaries, nor will they be able to retain employees in Pljevlja.
Veljko Ostojic He assessed that the hospitality sector is in an extremely poor position.
"We train workers, and they go to the Mine and the Thermal Power Plant. I give waiters 1.200 to 1.500 euros, cooks up to two thousand, because my restaurant is located near the Tara Bridge, which is a well-known tourist spot, but many of my colleagues who have restaurants in the city cannot afford that. Subsidies are needed, at least in the off-season," said Ostojić.
Restaurant owners have also requested a change to the decision on setting up terraces, to allow for both summer and winter gardens, including glazing and more favorable rents in the winter months.
Restaurant owners have warned that rising costs are threatening their business.
"I closed the restaurant, and I still pay my workers 600 euros in wages. Čistoća charges me 176 euros for garbage collection, and I don't work. Real estate taxes have increased. If we want to maintain the private sector, we have to get benefits," said Ostojić.
Vladimir Džuverović from the Public Revenue Administration believes that the Secretariat for Economy has ways and can subsidize the salaries of employees in the hospitality industry and other industries.
He said that "the legal entities are collateral for the Mine and the Thermal Power Plant."
"I'm surprised that so many people from the hospitality industry went to the Coal Mine and the Thermal Power Plant, I don't know what they'll do there. We need to provide incentives to the economy, I think we're a little late. If we don't develop the private sector by the time the Coal Mine and the Thermal Power Plant close, we'll be in even bigger trouble."
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