After 18 months of fighting, campaigning with the Clean Clothes Campaign international network, and numerous meetings, press conferences, and protests, Orljava workers have won their severance pay. At its session on March 2, the Croatian Government made a formal decision to pay severance to 237 female workers.

The total amount of severance pay owed to the workers by the Government, as the owner, is €491,074.40. The Government has assigned the Center for Restructuring and Sale (CERP) to handle the payments, which will be processed during this month. Their struggle was concluded following a meeting with the Government held on March 8 (International Women’s Day).

This is a great victory for the Orljava workers and Novi sindikat, but also for the employees of other state-owned companies. Based on this decision, other workers can now also demand the severance pay they are entitled to under their collective agreements.

The message is clear: we must fight for our rights because no one will simply give them to us. Fight like the Orljava workers!