Easier path to prominence for trade unions

BELGRADE - The amendments to the labour law introduce a number of novelties, including the provisions which will make it easier for employees to collect their unpaid wages and for trade unions to prove their prominence.

According to the labour law amendments adopted last week, two thirds of the Committee for prominence establishment will decide on the prominence status for trade unions and the decision will have to be adopted by a majority vote.

Serbian Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran Care and Social Affairs Aleksandar Vulin said that in addition to this change, a law on trade unions would also be adopted soon which will tackle the issue of prominence status for trade unions.

President of the Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions (ASNS) Ranka Savic said that the new legal solutions on the establishment of trade union prominence are better than the previous ones but have not been adjusted to the Law on General Administrative Procedure.
“The new solutions envisage that the Committee for prominence establishment has to have a two-third majority in order to function, which is contrary to the Law on General Administrative Procedure,” Savic told Tanjug.

She underscored that Serbia is probably the only country in Europe where one trade union take part in the prominence status verification for another one because the Committee for prominence establishment comprises members of two biggest trade unions, the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (SSSS) and the United Branch Trade Unions (UGS) Independence.
“A trade union should prove its prominence to the employer, the International Labour Organisation laid down these standards,” she said.

President of the Confederation of...