PM: Government favors strengthening of social dialogue

BELGRADE Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic stated on Wednesday that the Serbian government "supports the reinforcement of the social dialogue". He also announced he would head the new convocation of the Social and Economic Council (SES). PM: Government favors strengthening of social dialogue The government will not set the police against workers but we expect to get a degree of understanding for the grave economic situation and certain plans that would not bring about immediate improvement, Dacic told a news conference after the SES collegium meeting. Dacic also underscored that his role is to contribute to facing the truth together and stating what can be done, what the government can do and what trade unions and the Serbian Association of Employers can do to help the government. “I will not lie to trade unions, but I expect them and the employers to show understanding and file propositions on how the difficult economic situation might be overcome,” he noted. Dacic said that the new Council would gather six government representatives, six members of trade unions and six officials of the Association of Employers, and underscored that the SES would be consulted about the draft laws which cover the scope of its work which was not the case previously. We believe that the principle of social dialogue and its reinforcement, as well as the social agreement on most important issues constitute the basic model of society which we support, the prime minister said. Before the government adopts a package of measures that cover the stabilization of economic circumstances in the country, the Council will discuss all the propositions and voice its views to the best interests of a wider social consensus. Dacic noted that the meeting of the SES collegium was constructive and this was also confirmed by other participants, including President of the Serbian Association of Employers Nebojsa Atanackovic, President of the Association of Independent Trade Unions of Serbia Ljubisav Orbovic and President of the United Branch Trade Union Independence Branislav Canak. Atanackovic expressed satisfaction that the prime minister for the first time took an active role in the work of the Council as the only place where representatives of workers, employees and the government can meet and talk. Orbovic also stated that the prime minister's participation would increase the SES influence and expressed the belief that the new Council would have a much more important role, while Canak recalled that this is the sixth attempt at the initiation of the social dialogue. The prime minister and members of the SES collegium address reporters (Tanjug) Tanjug

PM: Government favors strengthening of social dialogue

The government will not set the police against workers but we expect to get a degree of understanding for the grave economic situation and certain plans that would not bring about immediate improvement, Dačić told a news conference after the SES collegium meeting.

Dačić also underscored that his role is to contribute to facing the truth together and stating what can be done, what the government can do and what trade unions and the Serbian Association of Employers can do to help the government.

“I will not lie to trade unions, but I expect them and the employers to show understanding and file propositions on how the difficult economic situation might be overcome,” he noted.

Dačić said that the new Council would gather six government representatives, six members of trade unions and six officials of the Association of Employers, and underscored that the SES would be consulted about the draft laws which cover the scope of its work which was not the case previously.

We believe that the principle of social dialogue and its reinforcement, as well as the social agreement on most important issues constitute the basic model of society which we support, the prime minister said.

Before the government adopts a package of measures that cover the stabilization of economic circumstances in the country, the Council will discuss all the propositions and voice its views to the best interests of a wider social consensus.

Dačić noted that the meeting of the SES collegium was constructive and this was also confirmed by other participants, including President of the Serbian Association of Employers Nebojša Atanacković, President of the Association of Independent Trade Unions of Serbia Ljubisav Orbović and President of the United Branch Trade Union Independence Branislav Čanak.

Atanacković expressed satisfaction that the prime minister for the first time took an active role in the work of the Council as the only place where representatives of workers, employees and the government can meet and talk.

Orbović also stated that the prime minister's participation would increase the SES influence and expressed the belief that the new Council would have a much more important role, while Čanak recalled that this is the sixth attempt at the initiation of the social dialogue.