The Union of State Prosecutor's Offices called on the Government to increase the coefficients for civil servants and state employees. They said that, otherwise, the Union "will be forced" to undertake "radical union activities" in order to protect the rights of its members.
The union welcomed the initiative proposed by the draft amendments to the Law on Salaries of Employees in the Public Sector, which envisages an increase in the coefficients for state prosecutors and judges. "Nevertheless, we express deep concern about the neglect of civil servants and employees, especially those from group D, who form the backbone of the efficiency and success of the prosecutor's organization. Due to the selective increase in wages, this category of employees rightly feels like second-class employees," the statement of the Trade Union Assembly reads. State Prosecutor's Offices.
They say that civil servants and employees from group D, who represent the largest category of employees in the prosecution organization, have been facing low wages for years.
"The efficiency and results of the work of the prosecution organization do not depend exclusively on the work of state prosecutors, but on the contribution of all employees, where each employee has an irreplaceable role in the functioning of the prosecution organization. Without the contribution of civil servants and employees, neither justice nor the rule of law could be achieved on the way citizens expect it. The selective increase of salaries in the judiciary will not contribute to strengthening the independence and integrity of the judiciary, if the most vulnerable category of employees remains on the margins of life, which is not in accordance nor with the recommendations of the Venice Commission, which advocates a holistic approach to strengthening the judiciary. Only through teamwork and fair evaluation of each individual in the State Prosecutor's Office is it possible to build a functional and independent judicial system that serves citizens and strengthens the rule of law," it added.
They said that it is "particularly worrying" that the Draft Law on Salaries, as well as other regulations, do not adequately recognize the importance of expert associates in specialized fields, nor their contribution, which "often depends on solving more complex cases, especially those from the field of organized crime".
"The Union of State Prosecutors' Offices of Montenegro calls on the Government of Montenegro to urgently fulfill the obligations stipulated in the Branch Collective Agreement and increase the coefficients for civil servants and state employees. We expect that the Government will recognize the importance of this problem and approach its solution with full responsibility, and respond to the submitted requests for maintenance meetings with Union representatives. Otherwise, the Union will be forced to undertake radical union activities in order to protect the rights of its members," the statement reads.
Bonus video:
