Đapo: We understand workers' fear, but GIKIL must respect the laws and the Constitution of BiH

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - A meeting on the operation of the Lukavac coking plant GIKIL was held in Sarajevo. Edita Đapo, Minister of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of BiH, stated that she understands employees' fear for their jobs, but that this company has behaved irresponsibly. The meeting participants agreed that GIKIL must respect the laws and the Constitution of BiH.

- Workers fear changes in their workplaces, and this fear is even greater when there is a possibility of losing their jobs. We understand them and sympathize with them. However, we have an irresponsible investor. 51 percent of GIKIL was acquired by a foreign investor through a dubious privatization. He avoided investments in environmental protection. In Lukavac, we also have excellent investors who are modernizing technology - Đapo pointed out, as reported by N1 and Patria.

Jakub Suljkanović, Prime Minister of Tuzla Canton, emphasized the company's lack of seriousness regarding environmental protection and expressed hope that GIKIL will still be able to continue operating.

- The most important thing is that we agree that a thousand jobs should be preserved, but also that the laws of BiH must be respected. GIKIL must comply with the authorities' demands. But it must also submit a request for an environmental permit in order to operate legally. From GIKIL's management, we only received assurances that they will invest in environmental and labor protection - said Suljkanović, characterizing the assurances of this company's representatives as insufficiently seriously presented.

Anis Ajdinović, Director of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs, described GIKIL's operations as "undisciplined," and then explained the problems related to the company.

- There is also a problem with the water permit. I am sorry that GIKIL finds itself in a situation it brought upon itself. The inspection has exhausted all legal possibilities in dealing with the company. Every solution was met with irresponsibility from GIKIL's management. So they have shown irresponsibility and lack of seriousness - said Ajdinović, emphasizing that this is a company that generates several million marks in turnover weekly.

He stated that GIKIL was very prompt when it came to filing appeals against the Administration's decisions. They should have invested 112 million marks in modernizing production, but they did not do so at all, Ajdinović said.