Public companies must pay EUR 250 m

(Photo: srbija.gov.rs)

Within the shortest period of time, all heads of public companies in Serbia must deliver to the Government of Serbia a detailed plan for cost optimization, to generate significant savings in business operations and to start paying profit they make in the budget finally. The ones who do not stick to these directives will be replaced.

As Novosti finds out, the Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, did not spare critics directed to heads in public sector which has been a loser for years and which is a great burden to the state and citizens.

Vucic called some companies monopolists and said to the heads of companies to find the way how to return the funds they earn to the budget, among other things due to the fact that the companies have privileged position at the market.

According to our information, the heads of the biggest systems with state-owned capital were asked to provide at least EUR 250 m for the budget next year.

At one point, the case of EPS was mentioned and the Prime Minister outlined that the company last year generated profit of EUR 17 m, none of which was paid to state-owned budget. The EPS heads said the company had the profit practically only in paper because it was tolerating a number of companies which own significant funds for electricity, often at the intervention of some ministers.

The Prime Minister Vucic answered that not a single member of his cabinet is allowed to ask that electricity is not cut to a company, regardless of the system.

Heads are also obliged to provide suggestions within their savings plan on potential headcount number decrease as well as salaries and other benefits.

Profit

At the meeting, the Prime Minister Vucic communicated a request that public companies should pour 70% instead of 50% as they did so far into the budget.

Participants

As Novosti finds out, heads of the biggest Serbian public companies such as heads of Telekom, EPS, Srbijagas, Elektromreza, Putevi Srbije, etc. attended the meeting held in Nemanjina Street.