Belgrade Pharmacy Union's Demands Met; Back Wages to Be Paid in September

Belgrade's Pharmacy workers, represented by the "Opstanak" Union, are set to receive overdue wages and operational funds after a productive meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The union announced that all their demands have been met, bringing a significant reprieve to the employees.

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The President showed us great honor and respect by receiving us and organizing this meeting to resolve our accumulated problems. I can happily say that everything will be resolved, allowing all employees and their families to breathe a sigh of relief.

Snežana Pantelić Živanović, a union representative, informed reporters outside the Presidency that workers will receive funds for operations in August, with all outstanding salaries to be paid in September. Additionally, health insurance contributions and service record payments will be processed immediately. "The President showed us great honor and respect by receiving us and organizing this meeting to resolve our accumulated problems," Živanović stated. "I can happily say that everything will be resolved, allowing all employees and their families to breathe a sigh of relief."

Jelena Šikuljak, the union's president, attributed the delay in resolving the pharmacy's issues to a lack of attention to the growing problem. She emphasized that the state must fulfill its obligations, ensuring all back pay is settled within the next month to a month and a half. Regarding the potential concession of the pharmacy, Šikuljak mentioned that they were advised to consider the most objective and neutral solution, assessing their competitiveness and profitability. She indicated that a six-month grace period of state aid for operational needs is likely, after which a concession might be considered if the pharmacy cannot justify the support.

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The state must fulfill its obligations and in about a month - a month and a half all salaries will be paid, and then the sixteenth salary will arrive.

The meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including the Mayor of Belgrade, Aleksandar Šapić, the President of the Belgrade City Assembly, Nikola Nikodijević, Minister of Health Zlatibor Lončar, and Minister of Finance Siniša Mali. President Vučić assured the union representatives that efforts would be made to preserve jobs, though the final status and long-term solution for the institution are still under consideration.

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If I understood correctly, we will now get a grace period of six months of state aid, in terms of procurement of working capital, and if we do not manage to justify it, then most likely there will be a concession.