Union: Misajlovski’s reform for professional soldiers is PR and populism – NSPV files its proposal
NSPV calls the minister’s plan populism, demands equal pension rights and open-ended contracts for professional soldiers.
The Independent Union of Professional Soldiers (NSPV) sharply criticized the reform proposal announced yesterday by Minister of Defence Vlado Misajlovski, calling it a PR stunt and populism that would roll back rights for professional servicemembers.
According to the union, the minister’s plan—under which soldiers who reach the age of 45 could continue working in the Army as civilian employees, tasked with guarding military facilities—would be “a catastrophic offer” because it means lower pay and a reduced pension base.
"Instead of granting equal pension rights like active military personnel, you want to turn professional soldiers into civilians. With this their employment relationship will not be transformed into an open-ended contract after the fifth year, but they will continue to work on fixed-term contracts for a full 20 years, and only at age 45 will you transform their employment relationship, but as civilians, if you don't fire them, as in the past period," said Aleksandar Naskovski, president of NSPV.
Union submits its own draft law, demands fast-track procedure
The union denied having proposed any solution before and said that today it formally submitted its own draft law to the Assembly. NSPV wants the bill to enter parliamentary procedure under an expedited process and to be adopted within seven days.
"Today we are submitting to the Assembly our draft law for the permanent resolution of the status of professional soldiers. Equal rights with active military personnel will be respected, and professional soldiers will remain at their posts until their retirement, with open-ended contracts. We ask that this draft law be supported by the parliamentary majority," Naskovski said.
If the Assembly does not act, the union has announced a protest on 7 November in front of the Government building; the demonstration was scheduled before the minister's recent press conference, the union said.
Report: Emilija Misirlievski
Photo: press material from the event
