URGENT SESSIONS AWAITED Will there be political will to prevent the increase of officials' high salaries

(Patria) – The Law on the Budget of BiH Institutions and International Obligations of BiH is planned on the basis of a salary calculation base of KM 600.00, in accordance with the decision of the BiH Council of Ministers, which set the base at this amount for 2023.

After being adopted at a session of the BiH Presidency, the Budget was sent to parliamentary procedure. By adopting the Budget with a base that is the same for all employees in BiH institutions, salaries for elected and appointed officials would increase enormously, by almost KM 1000. The intention of increasing the base to KM 600 was to increase the salaries of soldiers, police officers, and employees in institutions with lower incomes.

Denis Bećirović conditioned his support for the Budget Proposal in a way, although he had already supported the Proposal. His cabinet clarified that a proposal for the Law on Amendments to the Law on Salaries and Benefits in BiH Institutions has been submitted, which prevents the increase of incomes for the highest officials in BiH institutions.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BiH told Patria that the amendments to the Law on Salaries and Benefits in BiH Institutions, which are in the procedure of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, and which provide for a reduction of the base with higher coefficients, are not directly related to the Budget Law, which is in the process of adoption.

“If the proposed amendments to the Law on Salaries are adopted, they will apply from the moment they enter into force,” stated the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

The date for extraordinary sessions of the House of Representatives and the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, where the Budget would be adopted, is not yet known. This proposal is not on the agenda of the March 28 session of the House of Peoples of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, although there are two other proposals, but they relate to other official benefits. 

The caucuses of the SDP, NIP, and NS/BHIFK announced today that they support the adoption of the Bill on Amendments to the Law on Salaries and Benefits in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina by urgent procedure.

"Bećirović's concrete and clearly defined proposal is precisely in line with what the deputies of these three caucuses have clearly emphasized through discussions - support for the budget, support for salary increases for civil servants, soldiers, police and state employees, but also a clearly expressed opposition to salary increases for the highest state officials. This responsible political move fully enjoys the support of our three caucuses and at the same time represents an example for other politicians that with a little effort, adequate and fair solutions can be found. For our part, we will make the maximum contribution to the adoption of this legal solution, and we call on the members of other caucuses to do it all together," the statement from the SDP, NIP, and NS/BHIK caucuses in the House of Representatives, signed by the chairs of the caucuses Saša Magazinović, Sabina Ćudić, and Nihad Omerović, reads.

If there is no political will to adopt the necessary amendments to the Law on Salaries and Benefits by urgent procedure, and the Budget of BiH Institutions is adopted, salaries will be paid with increases for officials as well. 

The adoption of these amendments is a real test for the ruling coalition and how much they are truly prepared to fulfill their promises to the citizens.