PM Marković hosts trade unions' representatives: Income of majority of citizens protected

Podgorica, Montenegro (21 December 2016) -- Draft Law on the Budget for 2017 and proposed measures of fiscal consolidation will enable the Government of Montenegro to resolve some issues concerning public finance, while protecting the standard of living and income of the majority of the Montenegrin citizens, noted Prime Minister Duško Marković at today’s meetings with representatives of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Montenegro and Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro, respectively.

Explaining the necessity of adopting the public finance consolidation plan, PM Marković pointed to the serious situation of the country's public finance and the need to urgently stop further growth of public debt and reduce budget deficit.

He also stressed that the proposed austerity measures will not seriously threaten the standard of living of the majority of citizens, but will preserve the regularity of the payment of social benefits and, while strengthening the revenue side, enable the recovery of the public finance.

Trade unions' representatives pointed out that austerity measures must not only apply to employees in the public administration. They spoke about a set of measures that, in their opinion, can result in significant savings, but also increase revenue of the budget.

Prime Minister Marković stated that in the time to come, the state will be strongly dedicated to the collection of receivables, especially in the sphere of taxation, in order to increase the revenue side of the budget, which would in due course enable the elimination of certain measures set out in the public finance consolidation plan.

It was agreed that representatives of trade unions should continue communication with relevant deputies and ministers. PM Marković underlined firm commitment of the Government to resolving all the issues related to workers' rights in dialogue with the trade unions.

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER