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Serbian company's disabled workers face 11 months without pay
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Economy & Trade

Serbian company's disabled workers face 11 months without pay

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Workers at Stil, a company in Zrenjanin, Serbia, that employs people with disabilities, report not receiving wages for 11 months and lacking health insurance.
  • Management previously cited a lack of work, blocked accounts, and issues with state subsidies as reasons for the payment delays.
  • Employees have appealed to the government for help, expressing despair as winter approaches and debts mount.

Workers at the "Stil" company in Zrenjanin, Serbia, which specializes in professional rehabilitation and employment for individuals with disabilities, are facing severe financial hardship. Employees report not having received wages for 11 months and are also concerned about the lack of health insurance coverage. This situation has persisted despite previous assurances from management that issues with state subsidies and blocked accounts would be resolved.

We received January's, February's, early this month March's, and, let's say, a part of December's. That's all we've received, meaning nothing has changed.

โ€” DaliborkaDescribing the infrequent and partial wage payments received by workers at the Stil company.

Daliborka, representing the company's union, stated that over a 15-month period, workers have only received four partial payments. "We received January's, February's, early this month March's, and, let's say, a part of December's. That's all we've received, meaning nothing has changed," she told N1.

They always say that disabled people are a priority, everywhere they say it, she and President Vuฤiฤ‡ and everyone from the government, but only for the media. In real life, nobody visits us, although we have called them countless times to come and see our situation, to see how these workers live.

โ€” DaliborkaExpressing frustration over the government's perceived lack of action despite public statements prioritizing disabled individuals.

A delegation from the company traveled to Belgrade to meet with ministry officials, who promised swift assistance and severance pay. However, a month later, workers have heard nothing back. Daliborka highlighted the government's focus on disabled individuals as a priority, citing statements from Minister Milica ฤurฤ‘eviฤ‡ Stamenkovski and President Vuฤiฤ‡. "They always say that disabled people are a priority, everywhere they say it, she and President Vuฤiฤ‡ and everyone from the government, but only for the media," she said.

Winter is coming, debts are piling up, we need to buy firewood. Last year many were without firewood, we are afraid we will face the same this year.

โ€” DaliborkaHighlighting the urgent need for financial assistance as winter approaches.

Despite numerous invitations to visit and witness their plight firsthand, no government officials have come to Zrenjanin. "We are really in great despair. Winter is coming, debts are piling up, we need to buy firewood. Last year many were without firewood, we are afraid we will face the same this year," Daliborka added, emphasizing that they are not asking for charity but for the wages they have rightfully earned through their labor.

We are not asking for charity. We are just asking for what we have earned with our work. We do not need any charity.

โ€” DaliborkaClarifying that the workers are seeking their earned wages, not handouts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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