N1.T5 – Judges Declare November Work Stoppage in Demand for Higher Salaries
HRA NEWSLETTER 1 – TOPIC 5
The Association of Judges of Montenegro has alerted the Government that, due to a negative attitude towards the judiciary and non-compliance with obligations under the Law on the Judicial Council and Judges, they will intermittently suspend work in certain court proceedings throughout November 2024.
The Association has stated that they will continue to handle custody cases, proceedings involving minors, and urgent matters where irreparable harm could occur. The first work stoppage is scheduled for November 11, lasting from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., followed by a longer suspension from November 18 to 29.
According to the Association of Judges, these initial measures will cease once the Government of Montenegro agrees to their demands. They are advocating for higher wages, specifically requesting that the proposed Law on Salaries of Judicial Office Holders be approved by March 31, 2025.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić responded to the judges’ request during the presentation of the European Commission’s report on Montenegro’s progress, expressing disbelief that judges were complaining about their salaries amidst public discontent regarding some judicial decisions. “I am often embarrassed by some judges’ decisions, such as when thugs are set free. There are so many errors made by the judiciary that it is unbelievable to me that it is this branch that complains the most about salaries,” stated Spajić. “I am frequently ashamed of some of the judges’ decisions, when thugs are set free… We have so many errors made by the judiciary that it is unbelievable to me that it is this branch that complains about their salaries the most”, said Spajić.
Conversely, Minister of Justice Bojan Božović acknowledged the poor financial status of judges. In the Assembly, while addressing parliamentary inquiries, he remarked, “The financial status of judges and state prosecutors is, for the most part, at an unacceptably low level.”
To address potential issues regarding the functioning of the courts, there have been several meetings involving representatives of judges, the Ministry of Finance, and the Minister of Justice. While concrete results have yet to materialize, according to the president of the Association of Judges, Miodrag Pešić, “things are progressing.”
According to the report from the Council of Europe (CEPEJ), the gross salary of judges in Europe at the start of their careers averages 2.5 times higher than the nation’s average salary, increasing to 4.3 times higher by the end of their careers. In Montenegro, judges earn salaries that are 1.8 times higher at the beginning of their careers and 3.1 times higher at the end, which is below the European average.
