Parliament ends debate on four drafts

The Serbian parliament has finished its general debate on four draft laws, one of which is related to the proposed changes to the labor law. The parliamentary session is expected to reconvene on Wednesday. Parliament ends debate on four drafts Among the laws that were discussed today is the draft on the budget system, a change in the law for the state administrative taxes and on giving guarantees to the Marfin Bank for taking a loan out for the Putevi Srbije (Roads of Serbia) public company. During the debate, opposition MPs criticized the budget system draft. Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) official Radojko Obradovic said that the law itself has been violated many times over the last several years. Obradovic added that the deadlines were not respected related to submitting the budget proposal by November 1, and that the report for budget inspections and the final budget balance was late. Regarding the labor law, DSS MPs said that the proposal works in favor of the employers, rather than employees. Opposition New Serbia (NS) MP Miroslav Markicevic said that there is doubt that the proposed draft of the budget system law will be implemented when money transfers to municipalities are in question, while NS leader Velimir Ilic had harsh criticism for the government and its moves. Opposition Serb Radical Party (SRS) officials called on the budget system draft to be taken off the agenda, stating that it is incomplete, unsystematic and inflexible. The proposed changes to the labor law would allow workers to be sent on longer paid leaves than is possible now. With the adoption of the draft, the legal framework would be created for employers to give employee paid leave for longer than 45 days, to lessen the effects of the economic crisis and decrease the volume of work. However, the employer would have to get the approval of the corresponding ministry to do so, State Secretary with the Labor Ministry Snezana Lakicevic-Stojacic explained earlier today. “There must be approval from the ministry in order to ensure that the rights of the employers on vacation time are not infringed on and in order to prevent misuse of this legal-labor institution,” she said. “Essentially, amendments to Article 116 of the law are aimed at preserving jobs, helping employers that invested in education and training for their workers to allow them to be on paid leave for longer than 45 days, with the obligation of paying 60 percent of their previous three-month wages, which cannot be less than the minimal wages in the Republic of Serbia,” Lakicevic-Stojacic said.

Parliament ends debate on four drafts

Among the laws that were discussed today is the draft on the budget system, a change in the law for the state administrative taxes and on giving guarantees to the Marfin Bank for taking a loan out for the Putevi Srbije (Roads of Serbia) public company.

During the debate, opposition MPs criticized the budget system draft.

Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) official Radojko Obradović said that the law itself has been violated many times over the last several years.

Obradović added that the deadlines were not respected related to submitting the budget proposal by November 1, and that the report for budget inspections and the final budget balance was late.

Regarding the labor law, DSS MPs said that the proposal works in favor of the employers, rather than employees.

Opposition New Serbia (NS) MP Miroslav Markićević said that there is doubt that the proposed draft of the budget system law will be implemented when money transfers to municipalities are in question, while NS leader Velimir Ilić had harsh criticism for the government and its moves.

Opposition Serb Radical Party (SRS) officials called on the budget system draft to be taken off the agenda, stating that it is incomplete, unsystematic and inflexible.

The proposed changes to the labor law would allow workers to be sent on longer paid leaves than is possible now.

With the adoption of the draft, the legal framework would be created for employers to give employee paid leave for longer than 45 days, to lessen the effects of the economic crisis and decrease the volume of work.

However, the employer would have to get the approval of the corresponding ministry to do so, State Secretary with the Labor Ministry Snežana Lakićević-Stojačić explained earlier today.

“There must be approval from the ministry in order to ensure that the rights of the employers on vacation time are not infringed on and in order to prevent misuse of this legal-labor institution,” she said.

“Essentially, amendments to Article 116 of the law are aimed at preserving jobs, helping employers that invested in education and training for their workers to allow them to be on paid leave for longer than 45 days, with the obligation of paying 60 percent of their previous three-month wages, which cannot be less than the minimal wages in the Republic of Serbia,” Lakićević-Stojačić said.