Bosnian workers still wanted in Slovenia: 8,809 new work permits issued this year, 5,105 renewed

(Patria) - In the first nine months of 2022, Slovenia issued 13,914 work permits for Bosnian workers. Of that number, 8,809 were newly issued, while 5,105 previously issued permits were renewed.

From the Agency for Labor and Employment of Bosnia and Herzegovina, they state that the number of issued permits this year has increased compared to 2021. In the classification of workers, the most are drivers, welders, metal workers, construction workers, and tilers.

Representatives of the Agency for Labor and Employment of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia held a meeting at the beginning of this month, where better control of working conditions for Bosnian workers was agreed upon, as well as the introduction of control over contracts sent by employers.

“The so-called 'first contract' that arrives at the Agency for Labor and Employment of Bosnia and Herzegovina and which the Agency checks, must be identical to the contract that arrives at the Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia and on the basis of which an administrative note, i.e., a work and residence permit, is issued. In practice, it has been observed that some employers sent different contracts to the mentioned institutions, always to the detriment of the worker, and from now on this will no longer be possible. The contract that arrives at the Agency for Labor and Employment of Bosnia and Herzegovina will have to bear the approval of the Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia, which is a sign that the same contract has been submitted to both institutions,” they state from the Agency.

The number of unemployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina as of August 31, 2022, was 360,434, with the data for the Zenica-Doboj Canton not being updated since June.