Meeting Between Ministry Representatives and Former IMO “Košuta” Workers

Associates of Minister Nišić met with representatives of former workers of IMO “Košuta” Cetinje to inform them about the steps taken following a meeting held at the beginning of October this year. Thanks to an institutional approach, the issue of paying outstanding claims to former IMO “Košuta” workers in Cetinje was previously resolved, covering more than 900 former workers and amounting to over €3 million. However, the former workers’ current request concerns the so-called “purchase of service years”—that is, recognizing as pensionable service a certain period during which they were not employed, did not work, and were not insured or had pension and disability insurance contributions paid on their behalf. In other words, their request would mean that, in order to meet the requirements for pension entitlement, years that were not actually accrued through employment and insurance would also be recognized as service. In this regard, the Ministry announced today that a meeting has already been initiated with Montenegro’s Protector of Property and Legal Interests and with Montenegro’s representative before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. We emphasize that this ministry understands the position of former workers affected by the transition and remains open to institutional dialogue, and will continue to make its full contribution within its remit.