Since the coronavirus outbreak in Montenegro, the defender of human rights and freedoms got more than 100 phone calls of citizens mostly complaining about violation of the provisions of the law concerning firing – especially women who are on a maternity leave – and generally on the NKT’s temporary measures against Covid-19, defender of human rights and freedoms in Montenegro, Mr Siniša Bjeković, told Pobjeda daily.
“Since mid-March, we have recorded an increase in requests that more or less concern the temporary measures and procedures during the pandemic (self-isolation, quarantine, movement limitations, separation from families, basic human needs, functioning of the system of social and health protection),” Mr Bjeković noted.
He further explained that people sent complaints electronically, by phone or post. They suspended direct contacts with them but have two additional mobile phone lines so that people can contact them.
The number of citizens’ addresses has decreased compared to the previous period, he added, while the pandemic and its risks greatly affected the manner of work of the institution he has been leading.
According to him, it’s not possible to speak solely about health consequences of the pandemic in the situation when limitations deeply affect the social and economic side of the society, as well as “exercising of civic and political rights”.
“If you take a closer look at the measures and recommendations taken by the NKT, you’ll see they refer not only to rules of behavior during the pandemic, but alsothe economic, social and other mechanisms for mitigating the pandemic consequences,” Mr Bjeković underlined.
