“WE HAVEN’T RECEIVED NINE MONTHS’ WORTH OF PAY!” Employees at state-run institute outraged, demand urgent action from authorities!

A group of employees at the Institute for Vegetable Crops in Smederevska Palanka has issued a statement claiming that 16 of them have not received nine months’ worth of salaries this year.

“The last payment we received was on September 15, amounting to half a month’s salary. Before that, on July 21, we also received half a month’s salary. All employees whose salaries are outstanding have permanent employment contracts and are assigned to administrative, technical and support staff positions,” the group of employees said in its statement.

They also point out that, at the same time, salaries are being paid regularly and without delays to the 17 employees working as researchers in scientific, research and professional positions.

“One employee working in an administrative position also receives her salary regularly and without delay. In addition, one person is currently engaged under a temporary and occasional employment contract and is being paid the agreed compensation,” the statement reads. The employees also note that travel expenses for commuting to and from work have not been paid.

“We demand full implementation of the Law on Science and Research and wish to draw public attention to Article 108 of the Law on Science and Research, which stipulates that ‘institutional funding for accredited institutes established as institutions, whose founder is the Republic of Serbia,’ … ‘includes: 1) funds for the salaries and other benefits of researchers holding scientific titles; 2) funds for the salaries of administrative and technical staff, professional personnel and support staff,’” they said.