Dragan Milovanovic

Belgrade, July 18, 2001 (Tanjug) - I can assure you that the new law on labour is good, and it will make the Serbian workers the most protected workers in Europe, stated Serbian Minister of Labour and Employment Dragan Milovanovic and added that there are similar laws in Germany and Scandinavian countries, where the workers never complain, especially about their salaries.

Answering the accusations of the United Branch Trade Union (UGS) "Nezavisnost" (Independence) that the law protects the employer and his capital, and treats employees as hired labour, Milovanovic stated for Tuesday's issue of the daily "Novosti" that the law, above all, protected the rights of the employees.

"It improves employment, the market industry and production which was during the last decade at a dead-end," he stated.

Milovanovic denied the accusations of the Independent Union and UGS "Nezavisnost" that they had not participated in the preparation of the law.

"That is not true. All three Serbian unions expressed their views regarding the law, i.e. The Independent Union, ASNS and "Nezavisnost". Their representatives, together with the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Employers, gave their suggestions which were incorporated into the draft law", said Milovanovic and named all the representatives.

He said that only the Serbian parliament could relieve him of office, not the independent unions.