RESPONSE: Economic ignorance of political party Democratic Montenegro

In an attempt to diminish the indisputable successes achieved by the Government in the past two years, representatives of the Parliament boycott also resort to falsehoods. Namely, the political party Democratic Montenegro reported that the average montly wage in Montenegro in 2011 was EUR 515, which is not true.

In 2011, the average montly net wage amounted to EUR 484, while in 2017 it was EUR 510. In the first nine months of 2011 it amounted to EUR 485, while in the first nine months of 2018 it was at the level of EUR 510. These are reliable, public and verifiable data.

When it comes to comparing average wages with EU countries, Prime Minister Duško Marković underlined at PMQs that the average montly wage in Montenegro is higher than in all countries of the Western Balkans, and "even in relation to EU countries", while thinking of the well-known individual examples.

The claim of the Democratic Montenegro that Montenegro is behind all EU member states in terms of the minimum wage level is also incorrect. There are two reasons for this:

The first – not all EU member states have the minimum wage defined by law (Austria, Italy, Denmark, etc.).

The second – the practice of determining the minimum wage (this is known by serious professionals) varies from state to state, therefore, its level cannot be compared in absolute amount. The minimum wage is usually compared to the average wage in the country, and in the EU countries it ranges from 31% to 55% of the average wage.

Obviously, in order to compare this indicator among countries, the Democratic Montenegro used basic political literature and meterial for laypersons available on the Internet, and not official and recognised documents.

Conclusion – in spite of the great but vain efforts to diminish the Government's success, one cannot deny the data on economic growth of 4.8% in the first six months of this year; significant increase in GDP compared to 2011; decrease in the poverty rate in relation to 2011 (World Bank data). Particularly cannot be denied the data on over 25,000 more employees than in the first nine months of 2011, and around 11,000 more employees than at the beginning of the mandate of the 41st Government.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO