Serbia: 73 workers laid off from Niš cargo company amid safety concerns

The Niš unit of "Kargo Srbija" has laid off 73 workers, a move described as devastating by Jelena Milošević, a member of the Freedom and Justice Party (SSP). The dismissed employees include skilled professionals such as mechanics, engineers, foremen, dispatchers, and department heads, impacting all three sections of the company: wagon maintenance, traction, and freight transport.

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73 workers have been laid off from the Niš unit of the company Kargo Srbija, including mechanics, engineers, foremen, dispatchers, and department heads.

Milošević expressed concern over who will now perform essential tasks, particularly the maintenance of freight wagons and response to derailments, including those involving hazardous materials. She highlighted the case of Srđan Jovanović, a 25-year veteran who repaired freight wagons and was among the first responders to railway incidents, including the ammonia tanker derailment near Pirot. Jovanović, the sole provider for his family of three children, faces unemployment despite his dedication.

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Who will do this now?

The layoffs are particularly alarming given the current state of Serbia's railway infrastructure and traffic safety, which Milošević described as serious problems. She pointed to daily wagon derailments and train accidents, questioning the timing of dismissing the very workers capable of maintaining freight wagons. "Kargo Srbija has almost ceased to exist in Niš, except on paper," Milošević stated.

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When the ammonia tankers derailed near Pirot, Srđan was among the first on the scene. He is the sole earner for his family of three children, as his wife cares for a child with special needs. Is this how the Railway thanks a dedicated and valuable worker?

Furthermore, Milošević warned citizens concerned about new track construction in parts of Niš that their worries are justified, asserting that "Serbian railways are unsafe." The dismissals at "Kargo Srbija" intensify these concerns, suggesting a potential decline in operational capacity and safety standards within the railway sector.

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While wagons derail on our tracks daily and trains jump the rails, Kargo Srbija is laying off the only workers who know how to maintain freight wagons.