Faculty of Philosophy in Niš faces unpaid salaries

Employees at the Faculty of Philosophy in Niš have gone nearly a month without receiving their salaries. Dean Vladimir Jovanović confirmed that funds from the republic budget have not been transferred to the faculty, despite other faculties within the University of Niš receiving approved funds in late June.

Staff reported that their last partial payment was received on July 20, and they did not receive the scheduled first installment of their August wages. The legal deadline for salary payments is August 31. The faculty has requested clarification from authorities regarding the reasons for the withholding of funds but has received no response.

Researcher-associate Milan Videnović suggested the withholding of funds may be a reaction by the Ministry of Education to an Administrative Court ruling. The court had previously overturned a decision to revoke accreditations for certain study programs at the Faculty of Philosophy and the decision to grant accreditations to the newly formed Faculty of Serbian Studies. The Faculty of Serbian Studies is intended to be formed by separating three departments from the Faculty of Philosophy. Videnović stated that if the issue is not resolved, the faculty will seek legal recourse through domestic courts and potentially the European Court of Human Rights.