Swiss company 8B Capital has yet to begin production at the Željezara facilities, and the workers who were supposed to be transferred are still waiting. However, time is not being wasted as there is still plenty of work to be done at the factory. Elektroprivreda is developing solar power projects, and steel structures, which are being assembled at Željezara, are crucial for these projects.
Steel structures are everywhere, creating a productive atmosphere full of optimism—this is the Željezara that everyone hopes to see, according to the union.
“We’ve been operating positively for the past five months. The important thing is that in the last quarter of last year and the beginning of this year, Željezara workers have been earning their salaries,” said Ivan Vujović, president of the EPCG – Željezara Nikšić union.
The company claims that the previous financial losses have been stopped, and conditions have now been met to settle the accumulated debt of nearly 2 million euros, mostly owed in taxes and contributions, which amount to about 800,000 euros.
“The second category of obligations is to the parent company. We had two loans last year—one was 400,000 euros, and the other 150,000 euros. We’ve received approval from the parent company for restructuring these debts,” stated Svetozar Golubović, president of the board of directors of EPCG – Željezara Nikšić.
The main activity is the production of steel structures for solar power plants. Elektroprivreda is both the employer and the sole client. Much is expected from the new investor, who has yet to start production.
According to the lease agreement, the company 8B Capital, owned by Igor Šamiz, was supposed to take over around 150 workers in the first six months and pay about 31,000 euros in rent for the forging and steel plants. To date, no workers have been taken over, and only two rent payments have been made.
“He stated that production would start by June, but we’ll see what that will be,” said Golubović.
As a result, workers are skeptical.
“We are concerned that if they are not paying rent, how will they fund the investments they announced, especially the salaries for the employees who might eventually transfer to him?” said Vujović.
The union is currently fighting to secure the conditions under which Željezara workers will be employed by the Swiss company that leased the Željezara facilities for 50 years.
The union emphasizes that workers employed by Mr. Šamiz will be considered Željezara employees and that this will only happen with the workers’ consent, which is crucial.
Željezara’s operations are closely tied to the development of solar projects. The factory’s surroundings are filled with solar fields with a capacity of 2.2 megawatts, with connection expected by June.
