Trade unions give government deadline
Serbia's trade unions have given the government two days to reach an internal agreement, and one with the IMF, regarding a controversial new law on pensions.
Tuesday, 02.11.2010.
09:14
Serbia's trade unions have given the government two days to reach an internal agreement, and one with the IMF, regarding a controversial new law on pensions. After the talks on the draft changes to the Pension and Disability Insurance Law broke down on Monday in Belgrade, the unions said early on Tuesday that they would start collecting signatures of citizens in support of forcing the government to resign. Trade unions give government deadline The government reacted by inviting them to more talks. Union representatives showed up at the government building for the meeting, and emerged an hour and a half later announcing that the next meeting will be held in two days' time. They also revealed that Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic had accepted all their proposals, and that all that now remains to be done is for the government to "persuade" a visiting IMF mission to follow suit. In the meanwhile, the signature collecting campaign will be put on hold, said the unions. However, the petition was being signed in the streets of Belgrade ahead of the meeting. Should the continued talks sheduled for Thursday fall through, Serbia could also see union protests and strikes. Yesterday, the government refused to accept the unions' key demand, to have the minimal average pension at 60 percent of the minimal average wage. According to unofficial reports, the differences over the draft law - harmonized with the IMF, withdrawn from parliamentary procedure after union protests, and sent back to MPs unchanged last week - will extend the stay of a visiting IMF mission. The mission is in Belgrade for the sixth revision of the stand-by arrangement this international financial institution has with Serbia. Deputy PM in charge of pension system reform Jovan Krkobabic said he expected a final agreement on the controversial law. "If the IMF accepts to have parts of it amended, we'll amend them, but for now, there are no changes. Negotiations are ongoing to arrive at a sustainable pension system that will suit everyone," said he. A scene from a previous union protest (Beta, file)
Trade unions give government deadline
The government reacted by inviting them to more talks. Union representatives showed up at the government building for the meeting, and emerged an hour and a half later announcing that the next meeting will be held in two days' time.They also revealed that Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković had accepted all their proposals, and that all that now remains to be done is for the government to "persuade" a visiting IMF mission to follow suit.
In the meanwhile, the signature collecting campaign will be put on hold, said the unions. However, the petition was being signed in the streets of Belgrade ahead of the meeting. Should the continued talks sheduled for Thursday fall through, Serbia could also see union protests and strikes.
Yesterday, the government refused to accept the unions' key demand, to have the minimal average pension at 60 percent of the minimal average wage.
According to unofficial reports, the differences over the draft law - harmonized with the IMF, withdrawn from parliamentary procedure after union protests, and sent back to MPs unchanged last week - will extend the stay of a visiting IMF mission.
The mission is in Belgrade for the sixth revision of the stand-by arrangement this international financial institution has with Serbia.
Deputy PM in charge of pension system reform Jovan Krkobabić said he expected a final agreement on the controversial law.
"If the IMF accepts to have parts of it amended, we'll amend them, but for now, there are no changes. Negotiations are ongoing to arrive at a sustainable pension system that will suit everyone," said he.
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