At the eleventh sitting, the Industry Committee members considered the Information on the state of the metal industry.

The sitting was chaired by the Committee Chairman, Milorad Buha, and attended by the representatives of the Independent Union of Metal Workers of Serbia and Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development Milan Josipovic and associates.

Assistant Minister Josipovic informed the Committee on the measures the Government of the Republic of Serbia had implemented to aid the domestic economy. Applications for short-term liquidity loans for and investment loans are already underway and so far the loan support plans for January and February have been realised.

The representatives of the Independent Union of Metal Workers of Serbia deem the existing cooperation with the Government is insufficient. They pointed out that it is important that the Government comes up with possible financial support to companies for already negotiated business, as well as that domestic producers be given priority in public procurement proceedings so as to assist domestic economy in the period of financial crisis. They also requested that loan payment deadlines for companies be extended from one to three years, and that loans be granted to companies employing disabled people. The poor status of employees in the economy was also pointed out, as well as that collective contracts are being broken by the employer, safety measures in the workplace are unsatisfactory and workers are being fired before the expiry of their temporary contract.

Following a lengthy, discussion the Committee members acknowledged the existence of readiness to assist the metal working complex in order to alleviate the effects of the financial crisis.