The government proposal for a law on permanent seasonal workers has been deemed positive by Čedo Popović, owner of Carine and a hotelier, as it aims to address the labor shortage. Popović, who has recognized the benefits of retaining seasonal workers year-round, has provided full salaries to his hotel staff for the past three years, maintaining pay for 11 months and slightly reducing it for the twelfth month.
To tackle the labor shortage during peak summer months, the government plans to introduce a law on permanent seasonal workers, a proposal initiated by the Chamber of Commerce (PKCG). The Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Dialogue expects the law to be adopted by the end of the year.
This new legislation is anticipated to facilitate the employment of foreign workers; however, Popović believes the government should incentivize local workers to remain rather than seek jobs abroad. He advocates for higher wages to retain talent, emphasizing that over 95% of his workforce comes from Herceg Novi, with only a few seasonal workers, primarily students and younger individuals, joining during the peak season.
PKCG shares this perspective. Sanja Marković from the Tourism and Hospitality Committee states that roughly one-third of seasonal workers are foreigners, while the remainder are locals. The goal of the proposed law is to motivate local workers to pursue careers in tourism, positioning it as a viable future.
Minister of Labor, Employment, and Social Dialogue Naida Nišić confirmed that the government will prioritize local workers over foreign nationals. She also highlighted the need to address high unemployment rates in northern regions, although the overall unemployment rate is around 11.9%.
Analysis by PKCG indicates that Montenegro’s tourism sector requires about 10,000 seasonal workers annually. The average net salary in the service, accommodation, and food sectors for the first seven months of this year was €780, reflecting an 11% increase from the previous year and an 87% increase compared to 2019.
