Former employees of Montenegro Airlines (MA) are facing significant hardships, as they have not received their salaries for seven months and lack a social program following the company’s bankruptcy. This situation marks five years since MA’s operations were halted in 2018, leading to the airline’s insolvency declared in April 2021.
The former workers have highlighted their plight, stating they have gone without compensation for over three years despite their extensive experience in the aviation industry. They argue that the decision to shut down the airline was predetermined, suggesting that the decision-makers had ulterior motives that ultimately harmed the company and its employees. In a statement signed by Miljan Perović and Srđa Habić, they expressed, “After five years, it is clear that MA was left to fail due to animosity towards us and personal interests among some government officials.”
The former employees claim that the decision-makers inaccurately asserted there was no legal means to sustain the airline. They point out that during this period, there existed a special law, the Law on the Consolidation of MA, which was not utilized. They emphasized that MA had considerable resources, including $11.2 million allocated for aircraft maintenance, funds that remain unaccounted for.
Critics of the government have also noted the false claim that a new airline would not cost the state anything. The initial investment for the new airline reportedly amounted to €30 million, alongside additional undisclosed financial support from the government. The former employees fear that the new airline, ToMontenegro, will face similar challenges and could leave workers abandoned just as its predecessor did.
In their statement, the former workers criticized the lack of a social program for those who dedicated decades to the state-owned enterprise. They feel unfairly treated compared to individuals who received severance packages from other state-owned companies. Over the past five years, they have repeatedly met with various government representatives, but their pleas have gone unanswered, leading them to reach out to international bodies for assistance.
The former employees have contacted embassies of Western democracies and the EU office in Podgorica, emphasizing that their basic human and labor rights are being violated. They referenced the words of the current Prime Minister, former Finance Minister Milojko Spajić, who claimed that only “some worthless workers” remained at MA. This sentiment has added to their frustrations.
Despite assurances from the EU that the employees would be compensated through the bankruptcy process, they report that the proceedings have stalled. They allege a lack of transparency from the bankruptcy judge, Ivan Kovačević, and the bankruptcy administrator, Milan Radulović, claiming they have failed to liquidate the airline’s most valuable assets while prolonging the suffering of the former workers.
Recently, the head of the EU delegation, Johann Sattler, suggested that the former employees approach the ombudsman if they believe their rights are being violated. However, the workers have already reached out to the ombudsman five years ago without receiving any feedback. They question the efficiency of the judicial processes in Montenegro, noting that similar cases can take decades to resolve.
The former employees concluded their statement by expressing hopes that no one else would experience their situation, which left them without support during the COVID-19 pandemic. As they celebrate the New Year and Christmas, they reflect on the irony of being dismissed by the government during a time of crisis.
