Dacic calls for labor law based on EU model

VALJEVO - The coalition gathered around the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) promised to voters at a pre-election rally in Valjevo that it will create new jobs and protect workers, farmers and pensioners.

At the rally held late on Wednesday, SPS leader Ivica Dacic underlined that Serbia needs a law on labor that will be modeled after EU regulation

If the coalition comes to power, it will defend state and national interests, protect the rights of workers, farmers and pensioners, and fight against tycoons and criminals, pledged Dacic.

He stressed that pensioners and low-income workers should not be the ones to pay the price of vital reforms.

"We must jump-start production and create new jobs, as that is the only way to solve problems," he said.

Dacic criticized former governments who have conducted reforms since 2000 and caused the number of employees in Serbia to be cut in half.

He noted that they were “favorites of the international community” and could do whatever they wanted, but that, unfortunately, they were false reformers who only acted on their own behalf and on behalf of their parties.

The leader of United Serbia (JS) Dragan Markovic pointed to the successful development of the city of Jagodina, of which he is the long-time mayor, and stressed that the Socialist-led coalition is against the economic measures put forward by the former minister of economy, as they are based on layoffs and pay cuts.

The coalition gathering around SPS aims to create new jobs, said Markovic and promised that if the coalition wins 30 percent of votes in the March 16 parliamentary elections, the Valjevo-based food processing industry “Srbijanka” would reopen in four months' time.