Postal worker shortages cause delivery delays in Montenegro

A shortage of postal workers is causing significant delays in mail, bill, and tax notification deliveries in Montenegro, specifically affecting the regions of Herceg Novi and Tivat.

In Herceg Novi, four out of 20 engaged postal workers are currently unavailable, leading to delays of ten days or more in areas such as Igala. In Tivat, the situation is described as alarming, as no candidates applied for the last six job openings.

The Regional Center, which manages 14 postal units and approximately 80 employees for both Herceg Novi and Tivat, faces these challenges despite offering relatively stable conditions. Requirements for the role include a minimum of a third-degree vocational qualification and a driver's license, preferably for a motorcycle. Entry-level salaries are approximately 720 euros, with benefits including fuel cards and official phones after a 60-day probationary period. Challenges cited for the lack of interest include difficult weather conditions, traffic congestion, and the difficulty of locating recipients with incomplete addresses.