Marđonović: Amendments to the Law on Crafts will not improve the quality of services or reduce the shadow economy

The Director of the Chamber of Crafts of Montenegro, Boris Marđonović, warned that the adopted amendments to the Law on Crafts will, in practice, not increase the quality of services or reduce the shadow economy.

He, appearing as a guest on "Colors of Morning" on Television Vijesti, said that the main problem is documentation and formalities, which, he says, outweigh expertise and practical skills.

"The status of a craftsman now depends solely on paper, not on actual knowledge. The commissions will not have experts checking qualifications, which leads to a situation where legally formally fulfilled conditions do not guarantee the quality of the service," says Mrđonović.

It points to a major shortage of skilled labor, and indicates that many craftsmen are leaving for the region, especially Croatia and Slovenia, where the market is more open and wages are better.

Currently, there are about 155 craft professions in Montenegro. He also says that the shadow economy is still present due to high demand and a lack of regulations that work in practice.

According to him, artisans can continue to do their work without too much worry.

"We have developed custom GPT assistants, based on artificial intelligence, which help with exam preparation and in the daily work of craftsmen. Craftsmen do not need to worry about new legal obligations. We provide support for professional development and quality training, even without mandatory chamber membership," Marđonović points out.