Although they are preparing to leave the classrooms from February, more than ten percent of educational workers are already absent from work because they are on sick leave.
From the Ministry of Education, they can only assume that there is abuse, and the Trade Union has no doubt that some of their colleagues are absent unjustifiably.
Despite this, they receive 90 percent of their salary, which is made possible for them and others in the public sector by the Branch Collective Agreement (GKU).
Out of a total of 16.600 educators, more than ten percent are outside the classroom.
"1.700 educators are on sick leave, with the fact that this number does not apply to university employees," said Milica Nišavić from the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry does not have an answer to the question of what is the longest current sick leave, nor how many are on sick leave for more than half a year and a year, but they still know that pregnancy and maternity leaves are leading the way.
And is there abuse?
"We can only assume that there are them in the field of education, as well as in other fields," Nišavić said.
The Education Union believes, however, that among colleagues, in addition to those who are excused, there are also those who abuse sick leave.
"I know that there are some educators who have not come to work for years, who stop on December 31st during the winter vacation, and then continue their sick leave on the first working day of the second semester. Similarly for the summer vacation, there are such, there are a small number of them," said Radomir Božović from the Union of Education.
Abuse is facilitated by the fact that the remittances that are delivered do not include disease codes or diagnoses, which is confirmed by one of the answers that Televizija Vijesti received from several larger schools in Podgorica.
"1 employee who uses long sick leave due to illness, diagnosis unknown to the school", it is stated.
The employer can only ask to check whether the absence is justified, and take their word for it that the control was valid.
The president of the union, who has been in education for many years, is not aware of anyone being sanctioned for unfounded sick leave.
"I am not aware that any of the directors dealt with these matters, and in the law, the Education Act and the GKU, there are provisions that an employee can lose his job if he misuses his sick leave," said Božović.
And despite the fact that the state passed the Law on Health Insurance according to which a minimum of 70 percent of the salary is paid during sick leave, through branch collective agreements, it allows employees in the public sector to receive as much as 90 percent of the salary while they are on leave.
Božović admits that this additionally stimulates some educators to behave irresponsibly.
However, despite this, there are no indications that these contracts will be changed.
"Abuse of sick leave is a systemic problem that must be regulated by law, and in the coming period the Government will actively work on solving this problem at all levels," Nišavić said.
OFF: That the abuse of sick leave in all professions, which we have been talking about for years, must be solved, the trade union says.
RADOMIR BOŽOVIĆ – EDUCATION UNION
01. 22 "How can people be on sick leave for years, and we know how we see them walking, doing other things. '' 01.40
OFF: The Health Fund recently told TV Vijesti that sick leave has increased by 20% in the past six months, and that most of them are written by specialists who can be controlled by the Ministry of Health and competent inspections.
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