The Executive Board of the Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro (USSCG) has called on its members to join a boycott of shopping in retail chains on January 31, as an expression of civil revolt against the extremely high prices of goods.
The USSCG has repeatedly called on the government in recent times to take concrete measures to protect consumers from the unjustifiably high profit margins imposed by traders, which are not based on realistic grounds but rather on the effects of the Europe Now 1 and 2 programs, which have led to wage and pension increases. “If citizens respond to the boycott call and if the boycott succeeds, it will send a strong message to traders that citizens have a mechanism to protect themselves from further ‘price hikes.’ We are aware that one day of abstaining from shopping will not cause significant damage to the traders, but we will send a message that the next boycott could be extended and focused on abstaining from purchasing perishable goods that cannot sit long on shelves, which would cause much greater harm,” they said in a statement.
The USSCG emphasizes that the problem of unjustifiably high prices is not only found in retail but also in other sectors such as hospitality and tourism.
“For example, the price of a coffee or another drink in some cafes and restaurants is double the price one would pay in some European capitals. Not to mention the disparity in wages between our citizens and those of these metropolises. The same applies to restaurant and hotel services, which have long surpassed the purchasing power of our citizens. Therefore, this boycott should be a message to them as well, as the next step in the boycott could be aimed at the services they provide,” they added.
The USSCG also responded to a statement from the Prime Minister, who supported the possibility of organizing a boycott similar to those in neighboring countries.
“The statement from that level only confirms the justification for the claims that product and service prices in Montenegro are unjustified and exceed all decency. However, the USSCG believes that the government has not done enough to combat this excessive phenomenon, on the back of which retail chains are making enormous profits and expanding their capacities and property every day at the expense of the citizens. The government must dedicate itself fully to addressing this issue and find effective mechanisms through its institutional action to put an end to these practices,” they concluded.
