Deputies from the Europe Now Movement (PES) will submit an initiative to the Ministry of Economic Development in the coming period to regulate the operations of businesses that continue to operate on Sundays.
They announced this at a press conference they organized on the topic of a non-working Sunday, which was again voted on in the Parliament.
PES MP Miloš Pižurica emphasized that through the adoption of amendments to the Law on Internal Trade, they have dispelled many myths about the non-working Sunday, that it does not harm the economy and that its absence can negatively affect the lives of all workers.
Pižurica said that the decision is currently with the President of the Republic, Jakov Milatović, after which it will be published in the Official Gazette.
"The task remains to further protect employees who now work on Sundays, to improve their rights," said Pižurica.
Asked about the potential announcement by the Employers' Union (UPCG) to once again initiate a review of the constitutionality of the Sunday holiday before the Constitutional Court, Pižurica stressed that their MPs Vasilije Čarapić and Darko Dragović have brought this measure into line with the Constitution - so he believes in a positive opinion if the review comes through.
He also said that it is easier to improve the rights of ten percent of workers than 50 percent if Sunday becomes a working day.
Čarapić said that the MEF does not have the support to overturn this law, that they overturned the previous one and that they have announced the same for this one. He added that he does not know why they are doing it, but that he thinks that will not happen.
When asked whether they had considered the Sunday work model recommended by the Social Council, Čarapić stated that there was no agreement because the Government did not stand behind it, but rather the unions and employers reached an agreement - while the Government supported their proposal.
Pižurica said that representatives of the MEF came to the session of the Committee on Economy, Finance and Budget without analysis and data for their claims.
"They have not provided any analysis of how a non-working Sunday affects the economy and tourism. It is striking to me that they have no analysis or data to support the claim," he added.
Pižurica pointed out that the MECG stated that they do not want two companies, "Decathlon" and "Dior", to come to Montenegro due to the non-working Sunday.
Čarapić emphasized that there are already several examples of non-working Sundays in Europe and that they will not be abolished because the norm is constitutional.
"In the coming period, we will send an initiative to the Ministry of Economy to address the shortcomings of those businesses that operate on Sundays, because the goal is to regulate that sector," said Čarapić.
Pižurica stated that yesterday, MPs heard the voice of workers and that Montenegro passed a law tailored to citizens and workers, while obtaining a minimum of workers' rights, a free Sunday for the family, socializing...
He stated that this was a great victory because the proposal was passed unanimously with the votes of 62 MPs. He reiterated that returning the working week could have negative consequences, increasing real estate prices, increasing the foreign workforce, and that the work of women at newsstands must also be regulated.
He recalled that employers in supermarkets previously offered additional contracts to workers because they worked more than 40 hours a week, while some contracts amounted to one euro per hour.
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