Ministry of Finance for "Vijesti": We are changing the provisions on officials' compensation

The Ministry of Finance announced to "Vijesti" yesterday that it is working on changes to the Law on Salaries of Employees in the Public Sector, which will also change the provision of that act that refers to the so-called official fees.

"Vijesti" announced yesterday that, although millions of euros are allocated annually from the state coffers for the compensation of former officials, the proposal of the Europe Now Movement (PES) to reduce the deadline for their payment is still in the "drawer". The party announced, however, that the Government will deal with this issue in the future and that they expect the first ideas in the fall.

"The Ministry of Finance, in cooperation with interested participants, through a working group, is preparing amendments to the Law on Salaries of Public Sector Employees... We emphasize that the draft of this law is being prepared, which will also amend the provision relating to the right to compensation upon termination functions", the department headed by Novica Vuković announced to "Vijesta".

PES, the strongest constituent of the government, announced at the end of last year that, in agreement with partners from the parliamentary majority, they will propose changes to the set of laws in order to pay the so-called officials' fees reduced from one year to six months. "Vijesti" then, referring to unofficial sources, announced that PES did not have the support of its colleagues from the majority.

Former officials, regardless of how long they held the position, have the legal right to receive annual compensation in the amount of their last salary

As TV "Vijesti" announced at the end of December, PES submitted a proposal to colleagues from the majority at that time, in which, in addition to reducing the payment period, it was stated that in order to receive the compensation, it was necessary that someone had been in office for at least half a year, and it was also proposed that an option is introduced to provide an assignment to a job in the system instead of compensation, if the need arises.

PES MP Miodrag Laković told "Vijesti" the day before yesterday that they "completed the story (about compensation)", but that the Government has declared that it will make changes to the Labor Law and the regulation on compensation.

"We are waiting for their decision," he said, adding that this was the last information he had regarding the compensation issue.