Laid-off Zastava workers to decide

KRAGUJEVAC -- The proposed redundancy program for the workers of Zastava Automobili has so far been accepted by about 200, out of the total of 1,600 workers.

This is according to the Director of the Kragujevac-based carmaker's Staff and Legal Affairs Sector Margarita Gavrilović.

The so-called "social program" proposed by the Ministry of Economy was accepted by the Main Board of the Independent Union after several days of strike and a protest in the Kragujevac City Hall.

According to the program, 910 workers will be made redundant, 47 will be hired by Fiat Automobili Srbija (FAS), about 70 will stay at Zastava Automobili, while about 100 will be employed with Zastava INPRO, which employs disabled persons.

The workers will be able to decide on the program by 17 p.m. on Tuesday, Gavrilović said, adding that considering the turnout, it is likely that the whole matter will be completed by Wednesday.

According to the program, the redundant workers will be at the labor market and receive a redundancy pay of EUR 300 per year of service, as well as pension and health care contributions paid by the state.

The agreement between the union and the ministry stipulates that the workers at the labor market will get a six-month retraining and receive RSD 22,000 per month in 2011. The workers who do not want to join the retraining program will be paid RSD 7,000 less.

In 2012, the laid-off workers will get RSD 19,000 each month.