Council of Gradska RTV: The director, with an explanation, can make a decision on the assignment of variables to an employee

The Council of Radio and Television "Podgorica" ​​(Gradska TV) has established a Draft Rulebook on the conditions and manner of exercising the right to a variable part of the salary for employees, which it will send to the Trade Union Organization of that local public broadcaster, as well as to the Ministry of Finance.

In addition, the Council determined that it is the only body that can decide on the payment of the variable part of the salary to the executive director.

With three votes in favor, it was also decided that the director, with an explanation, can issue a decision on the allocation of variables to an employee of RTV "Podgorica".

The Council session was attended by four members: Vesna Radulović, Tatjana Džudović, Zoran Rakočević, and Marjan Premović. Also present were Executive Director Vladimir Otašević, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Nemanja Lacman, and Head of the Finance Department Nemanja Vešović.

The course of the session

The President of the City Television Council, Vesna Radulović, said that she had previously proposed the establishment of a working group to deal with the adoption of acts at the local public broadcaster. According to her, that group would include a member of the Council, but the proposal did not meet with the support of that body.

Council member Tatjana Džudović reminded that the Proposal for the Rulebook on the Conditions and Manner of Exercising the Right to Variable Part of Salary for Employees was submitted, not a draft. She also said that she had several objections to the Proposal for the Rulebook on the Conditions and Manner of Exercising the Right to Variable Part of Salary.

"I must point out that I am surprised by the reaction to my remarks, which were sent to the Council for further and constructive discussion. My remarks were given only for the purpose of a constructive discussion, where everything is clearly stated in law...", said Džudović, adding that she "takes care of public funds."

Article 193 of the Labor Law, she reminded, defines that during the drafting of acts relating to the professional and economic interests of employees, the Trade Union must be "consulted".

"If the Union's opinion is not submitted by management, a basis is created for its challenge," she said.

Džudović also reminded that variables were paid to employees illegally in the past period.

She emphasized several times during the session that no one denies managers that "employees are rewarded for their work."

With three votes in favor, the Council members accepted that Article 5 of the Proposal for the Rulebook on the conditions and manner of exercising the right to the variable part of the salary for employees should be unchanged, i.e. that the variable part amounts to "ten percent of the monthly gross salary of all employees of RTV 'Podgorica".

Džudović's remark referred to the formulation, so her proposal was that the variable part of the salary "cannot exceed ten percent of the total fund of funds intended for gross salary for the relevant month."

Head of the Finance Department, Nemanja Vešović, said that Gradska TV employs "colleagues who significantly stand out compared to others."

"Colleagues know that they cannot currently achieve the variable, because it has been suspended. Certain colleagues are advocating, as if they can get it," he explained.

With three votes in favor, it was accepted that the payment of the variable part of the salary be made "for the month in which exceptional results were achieved."

Džudović's remark referred to the formulation that "leaves the possibility that the variable part of the salary is paid to the same employee every month," although, as she said, this is not contrary to the law.

Vešović said that he does not like that the variable is presented as "an obligation, not something that is deserved."

The Council, among other things, decided to delete paragraph two of Article 7 of the Draft Rulebook, which stipulated that an employee who was absent from work for five or more days was not entitled to a variable part of his salary.

Adoption of a decision on the drafting of amendments, or the adoption of a decision on the repeal of the internal instruction on the procedure for issuing public advertisements (it was repealed with three votes in favor). Džudović voted against.

The disciplinary code was also repealed.

The Council of RTV "Podgorica" ​​also decided on the initiative of the Alternative for Montenegro, from where they claim that Džudović's membership in the Negotiating Working Group for Chapter Eight - Competition, which was established by the Government, "may represent a conflict of interest", and that she would not be able to perform her work within the Council of the local public broadcaster.

"The Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (APC) is the only competent and legally authorized body to determine the existence of a conflict of interest. Accordingly, the APC's opinion publicly stated that: Presidents and members of working bodies established by authorities, including the Government of Montenegro, do not have the status of public officials, which APC informed the public about on September 17.9.2024, XNUMX. The term 'elected, appointed, or appointed', which can be found in the acts on the establishment of working bodies, is not and cannot be a decisive reason for classifying a person as a public official. Engagement in working bodies established by authorities does not constitute a basis for the occurrence of a conflict of interest, unless the person already has the status of a public official on another basis. It is important to emphasize here that the Government made a decision on the establishment of a working group, and not on 'appointment to a public office'. Which is the essence... That is precisely why APC has taken a clear position that membership in a working group such as the one for chapter eight does not create a conflict of interest...", said Džudović.

According to her, the Agency's position is clear, so its actions within the City Television Council are not controversial.

Džudović said that she has not been a member of that negotiating group for some time.

The Council will send a letter to the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption "regarding the conflict of interest".

Revenues 1,3, and expenses 1,2 million euros

Vešović said that in the first six months of this year they generated 1,3 million euros in revenue.

"Commercial revenues increased by eight thousand compared to 2024. Total expenses are 1,2 million euros. Depreciation costs are presented at 340.000 euros," he said.

According to him, in June they had 98 permanent employees and six temporary employees.

The overall result was 83.000 euros, which, according to executive director Vladimir Otašević, is the first time the company has had a positive operating result in the last few years.