Photo: Beta/Milan Ilic
The presidents of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (SSSS), the Trade Union Confederation (UGS) Nezavisnost (Independence) and the Confederation of Free and Independent Trade Unions (ASNS) on May 27 denied having discussed an increase of the minimum wage with President Aleksandar Vucic as he had stated.
UGS Nezavisnost President Cedana Andric said she had not discussed the nominal wage with Vucic, adding that he should be asked whom he had talked with. “If he did not talk with representative trade unions, then what were the trade unions he met with. Not to mention that this is not his job,” Andic told BETA.
She said there was certainly a reason for increasing the minimum wage, but that relevant discussions were not conducted in this way as it was the responsibility of the Social and Economic Council, stressing that it represented “disrespect of institutions.”
SSSS President Ljubisav Orbovic also said he had not discussed the minimum wage with Vucic, noting that the Social and Economic Council had not been formed yet, as the Government had not yet nominated its members to the body.
According to ASNS President Ranka Savic, there are reasons for increasing the minimum wage, but in the way Vucic tries to do it, which “humiliates the Social and Economic Council.”
A few days ago, Vucic said he had been for days talking with the largest trade unions and the Finance Ministry about increasing the minimum wage from the current amount of EUR457 euros to between EUR500 and EUR550.
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