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12 October, 1999Expected plant closures may result in thousands of metalworkers losing their livelihood.
FYROM: The IMF-affiliated SMER -- Trade Union of Metal & Energy Workers and Miners -- of the Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia has said that it will step up pressure on the government over difficulties metalworkers are facing there. Some 5,000 metalworkers are expected to lose their jobs by the end of this year due to the expected closure of at least three metalworking factories.
As a result of the upheaval in Kosovo this spring, and the fact that most of the country's metalworking industry deals in one way or other with factories in Yugoslavia, many companies have been forced to drastically reduce or stop production altogether this year. In addition, on-going demands by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund with regard to industrial restructuring are also adding to increased plant closures.
As communications with the government are practically non-existent, the union has begun protest actions to wage its demands. If the factories are indeed shut down, the union is demanding that debts be settled before closure. Social insurance has not been paid in many cases for between 1 to 5 years, salaries have not been paid for 6-9 months, and SMER is insisting that social security and pension payments be guaranteed.
As a result of the upheaval in Kosovo this spring, and the fact that most of the country's metalworking industry deals in one way or other with factories in Yugoslavia, many companies have been forced to drastically reduce or stop production altogether this year. In addition, on-going demands by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund with regard to industrial restructuring are also adding to increased plant closures.
As communications with the government are practically non-existent, the union has begun protest actions to wage its demands. If the factories are indeed shut down, the union is demanding that debts be settled before closure. Social insurance has not been paid in many cases for between 1 to 5 years, salaries have not been paid for 6-9 months, and SMER is insisting that social security and pension payments be guaranteed.