In solidarity with our Serbian partner CATUS

The Olof Palme International Center stands in solidarity with trade unions in their efforts to defend workers’ rights. The Palmecenter therefore joins our member organisations, the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) and Runö Folk High School, in supporting the Serbian trade union confederation, the Independent Trade Union of Serbia (CATUS), in its demands for dialogue and negotiations with the Serbian government on wages, arbitrary dismissals, collective agreements, and other long-neglected issues.

These demands include immediate action to initiate constructive dialogue on minimum wages and wage policies in the public sector, as well as ensuring the timely payment of wages and compensation for past delays. The state must act as a guarantor of workers’ rights and restore lost purchasing power to prevent further escalation of the conflict and to ensure stability and legal certainty in Serbia.

We urge the Government of Serbia to meet these demands within the timeframe specified by CATUS, as the persistent lack of respect for existing laws has severely weakened the position of workers. It is essential that collective agreements are introduced and upheld in all sectors, and that public-sector wages are raised to a level that ensures a dignified standard of living. These demands are legitimate, well-founded, and vital for safeguarding workers’ rights and ensuring socially sustainable development in the country.

See link for the full statement from LO, Runö, and the Palme Center.