Bišćević Tokić for NAP: While citizens listen to stories about savings, pre-election hirings are swallowing millions

(Patria) - While citizens are daily hearing messages about cost rationalization and the need for responsible management of public money, the practice of institutions shows a completely different picture, warns Federal MP Jasmina Bišćević Tokić (SDA).

As the election year approaches, she emphasizes, there are more and more decisions about new hirings in the public sector, which justifiably raises questions about the actual needs of the system and the priorities of the authorities.

Bišćević Tokić reminds that at the 68th session of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, held on March 18, 2026, consent was given for the filling of 15 positions and the hiring of four trainees in the Federal Civil Protection Administration.

The fact that as many as nine heads of departments, a chief federal inspector, and a head of cabinet are being sought particularly attracts attention, according to the interlocutor of the News Agency Patria (NAP), even though, according to available information, such needs were not foreseen in the Employment Plan or the Work Program for 2026.

At the same time, adds Bišćević Tokić, Sarajevo International Airport announced a competition in February for the hiring of 152 employees, while JP Elektroprivreda BiH published a public advertisement for the hiring of 12 employees for fixed-term and indefinite periods.

The competition envisages the employment of seven employees for an indefinite period and five trainees, for the needs of organizational units in Sarajevo, Tuzla, and Goražde.

- According to information published by numerous media outlets, Railways of the Federation of BiH is also preparing a competition for the hiring of 24 new employees, although the Management states that the competition has not yet been officially announced - specifies Bišćević Tokić.

She points out that the latest decision of the Government of the Federation of BiH, adopted at the 321st extraordinary session, which gave consent to the new Rulebook on Internal Organization of the Federal Ministry of Health, also attracts particular attention.

- According to the current rulebook, 80 employees are systematized, currently 38 are employed, while the budget of the Federation of BiH for 2026 plans for the financing of 48 employees - explains the federal MP.

In other words, she continues, there was a possibility to hire ten more employees within the existing system.

However, the new rulebook envisages as many as 112 employees, which, according to the estimates of the Federal Ministry of Finance, would require an additional 1,880,000 KM in budget funds, and they expressed serious reservations about the rulebook.

- Of course, no one disputes the fact that certain institutions and public companies have a real need for new staff. Many sectors have been functioning with an insufficient number of employees for years, and this directly affects the quality of services that citizens receive.

However, the problem arises when hirings intensify precisely in the election year, especially for management positions, while at the same time serious reforms and strengthening of the services most needed by citizens are lacking - emphasizes Bišćević Tokić.

Therefore, she stresses, the question is increasingly being asked whether we are witnessing planned strengthening of institutional capacities or another cycle of pre-election hiring and expansion of party influence through the public sector.

- In a society where citizens' trust in institutions is already seriously undermined, transparency, clear criteria, and accountability in hiring should be the basic standard, not the exception - concludes Bišćević Tokić in an interview with NAP.

(D.K.)