The former director of the Regional Water Supply Company of the Montenegrin Coast, Borislav Ivanković, has responded to the article titled “Stimuli and Various Aids Under Scrutiny: The Kotor Prosecutor’s Office is Investigating the Work of the Regional Water Supply Company,” which was published yesterday on the Vijesti portal.

Here is his response in its entirety:

“First of all, I’d like to point out that you violated the principle of hearing from both sides, as the authors of the article did not reach out to me prior to publication.

The article is rife with misinformation intended to damage my reputation and that of several employees while obstructing the proof of my unlawful dismissal.

I have provided financial assistance for various reasons, including the death of a family member, an employee’s medical treatment, and the birth of a child, to every eligible employee, based on proper documentation in line with the Collective Agreement and related regulations.

Regarding variable payments and salary supplements during the disputed period, these were disbursed in accordance with the Collective Agreement, the Sectoral Collective Agreement, and the Regulations on Salaries and Other Income, to employees who achieved noteworthy results and worked in multiple roles.

From November 2023 to the end of October 2024, out of the total fund of paid net salaries amounting to €1,311,462.83, €23,229.82 was allocated for variables, which is 1.76% of the total net salary.

For overtime hours worked in 2024, each hour was compensated based on the submitted report. A total of €14,273.30, or 1.08% of the total paid net salary fund of €1,311,462.83, was paid out, which was not the case previously. Consequently, many employees are now suing the Company for damages for the period from 2010 to July 2022, with potential damages amounting to several hundred thousand euros, depending on the outcome and accrued interest.

Additionally, it is important to highlight that by November 30, 2024, the Regional Water Supply Company achieved a record net profit of €1,620,000, attributed to all employees, not solely to me. At the time of my departure, the company had €3,150,000 in its account.

It is crucial to note that no employee received advance incentives or continuous payments for more than two months. Incentives could only be claimed for work already performed and documented prior to variable payment.

Furthermore, no employee received the maximum incentive of 50%; instead, the monthly maximum was capped at 20%. Financial assistance was never disbursed at the highest levels, while overtime was compensated in accordance with legal mandates. As a director, I consistently prioritized fairness and efficiency.

Regarding the formation of work groups, I did establish a few in compliance with the law to monitor a pipeline construction project valued at around €9 million. These groups completed their tasks properly and were compensated no more than €150 for their work.

Introducing the case of Jelena Perović into this discussion is both unprofessional and lacking in basis, as I refrained from using my official card for the entirety of my 28 months as executive director, did not employ a driver, and personally covered my accommodation costs in Budva.

As director of the company, I did not take any incentives for myself, nor did I process any payments for overtime during my entire tenure.

“Therefore, I urge the SDT, DRI, and the Economic Crimes Unit to conduct an investigation into the operations of the Company, particularly from the end of November 2024 to the present, concerning alleged payments for aid totaling several thousand euros, especially to coastal sports clubs,” Ivanković concluded.

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