29 January 2008 Podgorica:Montenegro’s trade union federation is calling for a one-hour warning strike on February 5 in protest at the government’s refusal to raise the minimum wage.
Tuesday’s strike call from the Council of the Confederation of Montenegrin Trade Unions, SSCG, also included news that a rally would be held in front of the government building in Podgorica to coincide with the strike.
“That is just the first step in organizing strikes and protests. In case the government fails to respond appropriately, the protests will escalate to go as far as a general strike of all workers in Montenegro,” Zoran Djurisic, the SSCG spokesman told Mina-business news agency.
Last week, the government refused to accept the SSCG’s proposal for a 10% increase in the minimum wage which serves as the basis for calculating pay in the public sector.
The minimum wage was increased last year from €50 to €55 a month, and the government says there is no scope for a further rise at this stage.
The unions’ demand for a fresh increase in the minimum wage followed a jump in food prices in September, and other price increases since.
In addition to an increase in the minimum wage, the SSCG is also demanding improved conditions relating to the payment of pension and health contributions and redundancy pay.
The unions are also calling for changes to the draft law on labour.