Čengić: Adopt the Minimum Wage Law

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Within the discussion on employer initiatives for adopting a set of laws, Azra Hadžić-Bećirspahić stated that representatives have a responsibility to help employers, because the situation today is very difficult.

“Today we need to adopt concrete measures that will not harm the employee, the employer, or the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Hadžić-Bećirspahić said, and asked employers to take the criticisms they voiced today as well-intentioned.

The President of the SBB Club had objections to the proposed reduction in the duration of sick leave. Employers proposed a reduction to six days, while Hadžić-Bećirspahić believes that sick leave should be reduced to 30 days.

She specifically commented on the proposal for pre-bankruptcy proceedings, adding that this issue deserves a separate law on pre-bankruptcy matters.

“Shortening the bankruptcy period is a justified request,” Hadžić-Bećirspahić believes.

Then, the Prime Minister of the FBiH, Fadil Novalić, addressed the attendees, stating that he felt the discussion could go in the wrong direction and that it is very important to reduce labor costs.

He adds that the mentioned initiatives align with the Government's policy and the reform agenda.

“At this moment, we have an economic growth of 3.6 percent. In conditions of economic growth, it is possible to set a limit so that no one loses. I propose that the House of Representatives accept the initiatives and task the Government to submit the set of laws presented by today's initiative within a specified period,” Novalić said.

Osman Ćatić, head of the SDA Club, announced the club's conclusion which “tasks the FBiH Government with representatives of Employers' Associations and trade unions to find a solution as soon as possible within a defined period.”

Head of the HDZ Club, Mladen Bošković, said they support the initiative.

“We particularly insist that the Constitution be respected when proposing this set of laws, as some of these laws affect lower levels of government. Our goal is for the Federation to have better laws, and for workers to have higher wages,” said Bošković.

Head of the DF-GS Club, Alma Kratina, said that the laws proposed by the initiative are mostly good solutions.

Irfan Čengić, president of the SDP Club, said that they will speak about specific laws when they come up for consideration.

“The Economic and Social Council must meet and give its opinion. Our only condition is the adoption of the Law on Minimum Wage, which was proposed by delegate Aner Žuljević in the House of Peoples, and we will propose it again if necessary,” Čengić said.