Montenegrin firefighters demand salary increases and legislative reform

Representatives from three firefighter and service employee unions in Montenegro have issued a formal demand to the Parliament for improved status and higher wages. Following a meeting in Podgorica, union leaders stated they will not withdraw their demands until their requirements are met.

The unions are calling for an urgent amendment to the Law on Salaries in the Public Sector. Specifically, they are requesting that the job complexity coefficient for firefighter-rescuers be increased from 7.3 to 9.5 to return the profession to its appropriate pay grade.

In a joint statement, the workers expressed that their current salaries are at a minimum, making it difficult to support their families despite the high risks associated with fighting fires and floods. They criticized politicians for offering verbal praise and calling them ‘heroes of the nation’ during crises, while failing to provide substantive legislative support or financial stability once emergencies subside.