by SeConS

Belgrade, July 2013

On the 13 th of July, 27 employees from the Krusevac based chemical company “Zupa” started a hunger strike, demanding
payment of at least five of the 24 minimum wages that the company owed them. Although a selected number of
employees were protesting, meeting their demands would mean paying all of the 335 employees their salaries, which the
state owned company did not have the capacity to do. In a letter to the Minister of Finance, the Mayor of Krusevac and
other equity partners of “Zupa”, the managing director writes that the company does not have the capital to pay 30 million
dinars in subvention, nor the possibility to meet the protesters other demands, which include a social program for
employees leaving the company and speeding up of the privatization process. In spite of the inability to meet the demands of the protesters, the hunger strike ended on the 17 th of July. The compromise reached between the employees
and the company, although not to the satisfaction of the workers, included a half months salary to 190 employees and
even less to those who are on paid leave. In addition, the workers were made eligible to apply for a social program of 300
€ depending on employee status.

For the full version of the article: De-industrialization reform and human security