Dinkić still promises 5,000 jobs in Kragujevac

Minister of Economy Mladjan Dinkic on Wednesday reacted to the protest of Zastava Automobili workers in Kragujevac. He told B92 that the previously promised 5,000 jobs will be created in that central Serbian town, but that Fiat has decided to hire only 1,100 people right now. Dinkic still promises 5,000 jobs in Kragujevac He said that the government is in talks with 1,600 Zastava workers and that it never guaranteed that all of of them would be taken on by Fiat, which tested all employees when it took over the company. "Fiat currently employs 1,100 people and will hire another 1,300 by spring, for a total of 2,400 once serial production starts. Car parts manufacturer Yura employs another 1,300, while other car parts makers in Kragujevac alone will offer work for 1,000 more people," he announced. About 800 people who will be declared redundant in a few days have been offered redundancy pay of EUR 300 per year of service and free retraining for 18 months, Dinkic noted. Addressing other issued, Dinkic assessed that a possible government reshuffle is a dead issue which the media keeps rehashing, while the ruling coalition has not discussed it for three years. Dinkic also announced a campaign to collect signatures to change the Serbian Constitution, and said this would commence in the spring, but, he explained, unlike the Serb Progressive Party initiative, it would not be directed solely at reducing the number of MPs, "but also at changes allowing rationalization and the transfer of more authority to the local level".

Dinkić still promises 5,000 jobs in Kragujevac

He said that the government is in talks with 1,600 Zastava workers and that it never guaranteed that all of of them would be taken on by Fiat, which tested all employees when it took over the company.

"Fiat currently employs 1,100 people and will hire another 1,300 by spring, for a total of 2,400 once serial production starts. Car parts manufacturer Yura employs another 1,300, while other car parts makers in Kragujevac alone will offer work for 1,000 more people," he announced.

About 800 people who will be declared redundant in a few days have been offered redundancy pay of EUR 300 per year of service and free retraining for 18 months, Dinkić noted.

Addressing other issued, Dinkić assessed that a possible government reshuffle is a dead issue which the media keeps rehashing, while the ruling coalition has not discussed it for three years.

Dinkić also announced a campaign to collect signatures to change the Serbian Constitution, and said this would commence in the spring, but, he explained, unlike the Serb Progressive Party initiative, it would not be directed solely at reducing the number of MPs, "but also at changes allowing rationalization and the transfer of more authority to the local level".