State police on alert: We lack protective equipment and disinfectants

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Given the new situation regarding the expansion of coronavirus (COVID-19) and the measures taken to prevent its further spread by all levels of government, the Union of Trade Unions of Police Officers of BiH addressed the Council of Ministers with a request that, in order to protect the health of employees in Police Agencies and their families, you inform employees about further procedures regarding the performance of regular duties and tasks, and about the measures taken and necessary to be taken by the Agency to protect all employees from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

"Given the global pandemic due to the coronavirus, the Union of Trade Unions of Police Organizations in BiH considers the situation very serious and that we should all take it as such, and in connection with this, we request that occupational safety be ensured for all employees in police organizations, as stipulated by the Law on Labor in BiH Institutions and related bylaws.

Given that it is noticeable that police agencies do not have protective equipment and disinfectants, it is necessary to take all measures and actions to provide them as soon as possible. Border police officers are most exposed to the dangers of infection, as they are the first to be hit, but also all other security services located at border crossings (SIPA, DKPT BiH, MUP RS, UIO BiH), and they need to be provided with a sufficient number of protective equipment and disinfectants to protect themselves as best as possible and thus contribute to the safety of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Union of Trade Unions requests that all facilities and all official vehicles be disinfected, and that dispensers with hand sanitizers be installed at the entrance to the facilities.
Also, preschool institutions are suspended in both entities, and some parents do not have the opportunity to arrange childcare by a third party, which is why the competent authorities have proposed that one of the parents of children up to 11 years of age be allowed paid leave, and in this regard, we believe that it is necessary for the Council of Ministers and police agencies to make a decision on paid leave for these categories and inform employees about it.

We also request that, in accordance with the instructions to reduce activities to a minimum for all agencies, the possibility be considered to relieve older employees and chronically ill individuals of their work obligations, and that all officers whose jobs allow it perform their duties from home without coming to work," the request states.