Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – Representatives of the European and International Trade Union Confederations have sent letters to Prime Minister Milojko Spajic regarding recent developments related to the General Collective Agreement.

The International Trade Union Confederation stated in its letter to Spajic, forwarded by the Union of Free Trade Unions (USSCG), that Montenegro’s General Collective Agreemnt expires tomorrow.

They recalled that meetings of the national tripartite body have been postponed several times at the request of the Government.

“The General Collective Agreement is the main regulatory act governing wages and working conditions in the country. Its expiration would deprive a significant number of workers in Montenegro of the rights and guarantees arising from it. This would particularly affect workers in small and medium-sized enterprises and organizations not covered by sectoral collective agreements,” the International Trade Union Confederation said.

They added that Montenegro had been a good example of national social dialogue, recognized by both the International Labour Organization and the European Union, but the current situation calls that assessment into question.

“We call on you to immediately restore national social dialogue in order to discuss all outstanding issues, including wage coefficients, and to ensure that the General Collective Agreement continues to protect the rights and interests of workers in Montenegro,” the letter states.