MEF mission is defined as establishing and developing of social dialogue according to the conventions and recommendations of International Labour Organization. Adequate social dialogue based on tripartism through active participation of employers together with representatives of Trade Union and Government is a precondition for intensive economic development, rule of law and improvement of civil society and democracy. Only by social dialogue and collective bargaining the agreement between employers and employees can be achieved, and impact on creating of more favourable social and economic environment can be induced.

The principle objectives set by MEF are defined as presentation and promotion of employers interests in their relation with Government and Trade Union as well as with other institutions, development, practice and improvement of social dialogue, promotion and protection of small and medium entrepreneurship, creation of more favourable environment for small and medium enterprises development, promotion and protection of private initiative and market economy system, promotion of employers and enterprise rights and freedoms, protection of competition and favourable enterprise environment development, promote the integration of trade, environment and development, promote policies at the national and international level that are conducive to stable economic growth and sustainable development, representation, positioning and cooperation on international level, membership in IOE, UNICE and other associations of employers on international level.

MEF is an umbrella employers organization in Montenegrin consisting of entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises, associations of entrepreneurs and employers and large economic systems.

MEF gathers small and medium enterprises, large economic systems (with the overall amount of 800) as well as associations on local and branch levels (amounting 31). MEF members make 85% of GDP in overall Montenegrin economy.

MEF supports the development of micro, small and medium enterprises in Montenegro by offering the services such as

• free legal advice (providing support in the process of legal disputes, procession of legal acts and documents necessary for establishment of enterprises);
• presentation of MEF members within MEF webpage;
• consulting services (business consulting for persons who want to launch their one businesses, in the process of preparation of business plans and studies, elaborates for successful business dealings, a special kind of business consulting for young entrepreneurs,
• especially the ones who want to launch their one business, services in the field of knowing EU standards, quality standards enterprises have to meet in the process of EU accession);
• translation services (legal acts, economic analyses, scientific presentations from different economic fields as well as fields concerned with social dialogue and collective bargaining);
• education and training services (the basics of English and IT programs)

MEF practices the activities of training and education of employers by organizing and participating on international conferences, seminars and workshops, as well as by organizing or planning to organize courses in English, IT use, social dialogue principles, etc.

MEF is trained and qualified for management of collective bargaining. MEF staff is permanently being trained to provide current services for MEF members as well as all possible future services that would be of interests for Montenegrin employers and they could benefit from.

With an aim of improving protection and representation of its member interests, Montenegrin Employers Federation constantly performs the following activities:

• Connecting and improving the cooperation with similar associations in the Western Balkan, EU, USA, Eastern Europe …
• Connecting its members with foreign partners
• Connecting with potential foreign investors and investment funds
• Connecting with credit organizations so as to support development of small and medium enterprise sector.

Considering MEF international cooperation, MEF is the member of the most important international associations and forums of employers. It has official representatives in the countries of EU and USA.

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In August 2005 Montenegrin Employers Federation has been officially recognized by Ministry of labor and social affairs in the Government of Republic of Montenegro, thus gaining the status of the only official representative employers association in Montenegro.

After declared independence of Montenegro, Montenegrin Employers Federation became a full member of International Organization of Employers in October 2006. thus confirming the status of the unique and independent of voice of business, at national and international level.

In December 2006, a Tripartite Agreement was signed by Government of Republic of Montenegro, Confederation of Trade Unions of Montenegro and Montenegrin Employers Federation. This Agreement defines minimum wage amount for 2007, as well as bringing decision on establishment of Economic and Social Council as an important tool for development of social dialogue in Montenegro.

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Montenegrin Employers Federation organized numerous round tables, seminars, workshops, conferences, among which are the following:

• International Conference on informal economy in Montenegro
• International Conference on transition
• International Conference on pension system reforms in Montenegro
• Round table on “The influence of bank system on employers activities and development of entrepreneurship in Montenegro”
• Workshops on alternative disputes resolution have been organized in cooperation with ACILS
• International Conference on “Social dialogue in Montenegro – further steps”
• International Conference on “Attractiveness of Montenegro for foreign investments  viewed from the aspect of legal regulative”
• Round table on abolition of Central Bank of Republic of Montenegro authority on forced payment
• I International Conference for Small and Medium enterprises “Microfinance in Montenegro” – organized in cooperation with International Organisation of Employers
• II International Conference for Small and Medium enterprises, round table “Guarantee funds in Montenegro” – organized in cooperation with International Organisation of Employers
• In cooperation with Confederation of Trade Unions of Montenegro, and with support of International Labour Organisation, Montenegrin Employers Federation organized Round table on “Importance of Economic and Social Council for development of social dialogue in Montenegro”
• Two workshops for small and medium enterprises held with Inland Revenue Service and Customs Service in cooperation with Government of Republic of Montenegro and European Agency for Reconstruction
• Economic Forums on improvement of cooperation with private sector realized in cooperation with Government of Republic of Montenegro and European Agency for Reconstruction. Forums were held in Podgorica, Cetinje, Bijelo Polje and Bar

Montenegrin Employers Federation has signed many agreements and protocols on cooperation with numerous institutions, among which are:

• Agreement on cooperation with Trade Union Association of Republic of Montenegro
• Agreement on cooperation with national Agency for small ad medium enterprises
• Agreement on establishment of Coordinating body with Tax Revenue Service
• Agreement on cooperation with Refugee Centre
• Agreement on cooperation with Consulate of Republic of Romania
• Agreement on cooperation with Chamber of Commerce of Republic of Montenegro
• Agreement on cooperation with Centre for Entrepreneurship
• Agreement on cooperation with Microsoft
• Agreement on cooperation with Municipality of Podgorica
• Agreement on official representing in United States of America
• Agreement on cooperation with Slovenian Employers Association
• Agreement on cooperation with Croatia Employers Association
• Agreement on cooperation with Faculty of Economics
• Agreement on cooperation with Faculty of Mechanics
• Agreement with MCP (Montenegro Competitiveness Project)
• Agreement on cooperation with FORS Montenegro
• Agreement on cooperation with UNICEF
• Agreement on cooperation with Association of employers of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Agreement on cooperation with Association of employers of Albania
• Agreement on cooperation with T-COM
• Agreement on cooperation with Municipality of Bar.

Montenegrin Employers Federation participated in establishment of 18 Economic and Social Councils in cooperation with Trade Union Association of Republic of Montenegro and facilitated by ACILS (in municipalities, such as: Podgorica, Niksic, Bijelo Polje, Bar, Herceg Novi, Kotor, Danilovgrad, Mojkovac, Pluzine, Plav, Kolasin, Berane, Zabljak, Pljevlja).

Tripartite Agreement has been signed in December 2006 by three social partners: Government of Republic of Montenegro, Confederation of Trade Unions of Montenegro, Montenegrin Employers Federation. According to this Agreement, there has been brought Decision on Establishment of new Economic and Social Council in Montenegro. This Decision defines that representatives of private sector are nominated and appointed by a representative employers organization in Montenegro – Montenegrin Employers Federation.

Montenegrin Employers Federation established Association of craftsmen and small and medium enterprises.

Montenegrin Employers Federation gave strong support to establishment of Montenegrin Institute for Research and Development of Small and Medium Enterprises.

From the very beginning, Montenegrin Employers Federation, in accordance with provisions defined in MEF Statute, has launched the activities, such as organization of round tables, workshops on promotion of the development of country with special emphasis on international trade providing support and advice, strengthening service-sector for MEF members and Montenegrin enterprises in international trade negotiations. Promoting the integration of trade, environment and development Montenegrin Employers Federation constantly analyses issues that are related with competition law, policy and development, upgrading the position of Montenegrin economy in international competitiveness, being involved in work on export-oriented development strategies.

The Managing Board of Montenegrin Employers Federation adopted Declaration on competitiveness of Montenegrin economy in which, among other things, is said: “Montenegro should in a more quality way define its strategy of economic development and according to that define its competitive possibilities and compare them with the nearest neighbouring area. Regarding this, Montenegrin Employers Federation plans to establish the National Council for Competitiveness”. 

MEF is constantly involved in discussions on recent performance of and prospects for the world economy as a whole, and trends and directions of globalization and its impact on national and the world economy, analyzing international market and positioning of national economy in new circumstances.

The representatives of Montenegrin Employers Federation have participated in numerous working groups concerned with creation of drafts of laws that are of special importance for Montenegro, its legal system and economic development:

• The Draft of Law on Economic and Social Council has been created with ILO and Trade Union Association
• The Draft of Law on Alternative Dispute Resolution has been created with ILO, USAID, ORT and Trade Union Association of Republic of Montenegro
• Code of rules on establishment of lowest salary has been created together with Trade Union Association of Republic of Montenegro ad Ministry of Financial affairs.
• Representatives of Montenegrin Employers Federation participated in working groups concerned with creation of numerous drafts of laws, such as: Law on accounting and auditing, Changes and Amendments of Law on VAT
• Suggestions and remarks have been given on the following legal projects:

• Law on local utility taxes
• Public procurement Law
• Law on involvement of private sector in performing public services
• Law on insurance
• Law on establishments of objects
• Law on natural persons income tax
• Law on corporate societies
• Law on control of state help
• Law on concessions
• MEF actively participated in negotiations on establishment of minimum salary
• MEF actively participated in working group concerned with changes of Law on natural persons income tax
• MEF actively participated in Board for monitoring and interpretation of Collective Bargaining Agreement
• MEF actively participated in creation of strategy of cooperation between nongovernmental sector and Government of Republic of Montenegro
• MEF actively participated in Council of Statistical System for legal regulative
• MEF actively participated in Advisory Board on establishment of Environmental Protection Agency
• MEF actively participated on Conference on creation of Action Plan on Combat against corruption and organized criminal
• MEF actively participated in national partnership for entrepreneurship studies
• MEF actively participated on meetings of NGO Coalition in creation of necessary documents

Among the numerous projects MEF realized so far, some of them are the following:

• Project “Economic reform management in Montenegro” realized in cooperation with Government of Republic of Montenegro and European Agency for Reconstruction during which Business satisfaction survey of five municipalities has been conducted
• Project “Free legal service with an aim of support to SMEs in Montenegro” has been constantly conducted
• Project “Draft of Law on Alternative Dispute Resolution” supported by ORT within Montenegrin Competitiveness Project – Montenegrin Employers Federation actively participated in Working groups related with preparation of the Draft of the Law, with cooperation of experts of International Labour Organisation and Confederation of Trade Unions of Montenegro; Project “Draft of Law on Economic and Social Council” – Montenegrin Employers Federation participated in this project, being included in expert working groups; the project was realized in cooperation with International Labour Organisation, Government of Republic of Montenegro and Confederation of Trade Unions of Montenegro.
• Project with EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) within TAM BAS Program – Montenegrin Employers Federation is the only organization that got this kind of project related mainly with providing expert support with an aim of improvement of its capacities
• Project “Social responsibility of enterprises” realized in cooperation with Centre for development of NGOs during which Survey among SMEs in municipalities of Bar and Podgorica has been conducted, after which the round table was organized
• Montenegrin Employers Federation, together with Internal Revenue Service, supported by International Organization of Employers, realized project aimed at providing Montenegrin employers with useful information on tax system in Montenegro. As a result Guide for Employers – Tax practice, Frequently Asked Questions was published.

MEF development sector realizes numerous projects with an aim of providing support to SMEs development; MEF development sector, according to activity plan defined for the following period, will realize alone or with a partner, projects aimed at raising higher level of consciousness in importance of Internet technology use, raising consciousness of characteristics, importance and advantages of e-business dealings synonymous with modern business, and fact that world leaders are those enterprises that continually improve their products and services thus anticipating world trade trends, in such a way providing support to entrepreneurship development, current and future MEF members.