09.12.2016.
Minister Zoran Djordjevic with representatives of AFITU - Trade Union of the Serbian Armed Forces
Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic met today with representatives of the Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions (AFITU) – Trade Union of the Serbian Armed Forces, which is one of the trade unions that are active in the defence system. They introduced him to the problems in the functioning of the defence system and expressed their willingness to talk with the Ministry to solve all the problems.
Representatives of AFITU – Trade Union the Serbian Armed Forces believe that one of the key problems that the soldiers are facing with is overload of the people, stressing that the salaries of the military members are certainly not the main reason for leaving the service. As one of the problems they mentioned also that the applicable military regulations treat the female members of the Serbian Armed Forces in the event of pregnancy as being on sick leave, while the Labour Law would grant them 100 percent of a regular salary.
The Minister ordered his associates to find a way to solve the problem faced by members of the Serbian Armed Forces during the maternity leave and introduced the trade union representatives to all the steps that will be taken to address the overload issue.
Djordjevic emphasized that he and his associates, as those who work for them, will be solving all the problems faced by members of the armed forces. He reiterated that only dialogue can solve problems when it comes to improving standard and conditions in the armed forces, and that the announced protests are not the way to try to force something that is not possible in a situation of economic recovery of the country.
Since the beginning of November, Minister Djordjevic and his associates met several times with the trade unions which are active in the defence system.
