Mikavica hints that employers could agree to increase the minimum wage: To be between 800 and 900 euros

Not even 15 days after Prime Minister Milojko Spajić announced a program of drastic wage increases, Finance Minister Novica Vuković has no position on the "Euro model". While the relevant minister is still analyzing the Prime Minister's proposal, employers are looking for solutions that would, as they claim, reduce the impact on the economy. The President of the Employers' Union, Slobodan Mikavica, hints to Television Vijesti that employers could agree to an increase in the minimum wage, but that it should be one and amount to between 800 and 900 euros, and that other wages should be worked out using coefficients, as before. Svetozar Šćekić.

Spajić surprised the public 15 days ago by announcing the "Euro model" which entails a drastic increase in salaries and the complete abolition of pension contributions. Since then, Finance Minister Novica Vuković has been analyzing it.

"My colleagues analyzed the laws very quickly. I apologize that it will take me a few days," Vuković said on September 21st.

Ten days have passed since this statement, but there is no sign of the analysis. A few days ago, Television Vijesti asked the Ministry of Finance in vain whether Vuković had studied Spajić's model, what his position is on whether the program is sustainable, how much the state would have to borrow just to implement this program in the coming year, and whether Vuković's projections are that the budget deficit next year could be between five and six percent due to the implementation of this program.

On the other hand, the analysis of the Employers' Union shows that the economic sectors will be affected differently by the "Euro model." Therefore, they are considering proposing to the Prime Minister the reinstatement of a single minimum wage.

"We notice a big difference in the assessments of the central part of Montenegro and the south compared to the north. These most critical comments, exactly what was expected, come from those companies. We asked them, within the industry, to give their proposal on the range in which the minimum wage would be and all other factors that would be used to overcome and increase wages. So somewhere, so to speak, the dominant position prevailed that 800 euros is a measure that would be acceptable, which they expect," said Mikavica.

Such a position is not yet an official proposal from the Employers' Union, but if it is, Mikavica says that in different sectors the minimum wage would be further increased by coefficient. The aforementioned 800 euros is just one of the numbers mentioned.

"We have 850, 900 euros even in educational companies that provide educational services. We are aware that the first reason is to lay off some workers, the second is to raise prices. Let's see, these are very extreme measures that no one wants, let's see how we can somehow try to possibly modify the model itself, to make some of our own suggestions, sector-specific and in general, and in that way minimize the potential damage," said Mikavica.

Finally, the Employers' Union expects to send the Prime Minister an initiative for a meeting on Monday. It is not yet known when the meeting will take place, but it is expected that Minister Vuković will have completed his analysis of the "Euro model" by then.