09.10.2014.
Minister Gasic in "Krusik" in Valjevo
The Armed Forces of Serbia will be the “number one” partner in all future ventures of the Holding Corporation “Krusik“ – Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic stated today during his visit to this special purpose factory in Valjevo. Minister Gasic was assured by the management and union representatives that the agreement they had reached during his previous visit in July this year, related to the organization of production and resolving the cumulated financial issues is obeyed.- Minimum wages are no longer paid, we have agreed on the lowest guaranteed price of work and a collective contract has been signed. We have also discussed some new development projects and what “Krusik” should to become a stable company – Gasic said.
He stressed that they also discussed debt conversion for this company, leaving payments for the employees and resolving the issue of paying benefits to the employees who will soon go into retirement.
- This company has to find a way to pay benefits to employees, because no one did in the period between 2000 and 2012. Those people have earned their pensions and they must start receiving them.
By the annex of the collective contract which was signed in late August, minimum wage was cancelled for the employees of the Holding Corporation “Krusik”, so the first part of the September salary was paid yesterday in accordance with the new calculations. During the meeting with the management of the factory, Minister was introduced with the dynamics of package delivery of Plamen D 128mm rocket, production of pressure sensitive 120mm mines, production of null series of 40mm practice rounds and activities at the control technical check of “Maljuta” missiles, which is of special interest for the Armed Forces of Serbia.
Minister Gasic also visited today the Corporation “Krusik-batteries” LLC Belgrade, whose production plants are located in Valjevo. This company once made batteries for arms and military equipment for the needs of MoD and SAF, but the production was shut down after the privatization due to unpaid liabilities to the employees.
Representatives of the employees of the Company “Krusik batteries” introduced the Minister with the issues concerning the privatization of this company and suggested measures for their solution. Defence Minister visited the plant where production is set for silver–zinc batteries for MIG-21 and MIG-29 aircrafts. He was also introduced with the plan of further production of batteries for the needs of the Armed Forces of Serbia since the “Krusik-batteries” Company is the only manufacturer of nickel-cadmium and silver–zinc batteries in the Republic of Serbia.
Gasic thanked the Holding Corporation “Krusik” for helping the “Krusik batteries” Company start production and make a certain amount of batteries for the needs of the Armed Forces of Serbia.
