Economic and Social Council: Only 15 percent of employers respected the tax-exempt allowance for workers

(Patria) - The President of the Economic and Social Council (ESV) for the territory of FBiH, Safudin Čengić, says that at today's ESV session in Sarajevo, it was stated that some employers continue to pay workers the minimum wage and an allowance in "envelopes".

Addressing a press conference, Čengić said he hopes that more effort will be invested in eliminating the grey economy and similar phenomena in the coming period.

The President of the Independent Trade Unions of BiH, Samir Kutrović, points out that in 2025, according to data presented by the Federal Minister of Finance, Toni Kraljević, only 15 percent of employers took advantage of the opportunity to pay workers a tax-exempt allowance.

- That is a minimal number, and in this year we expect significant changes to be made so that at least 50 to 60 percent of employers pay this allowance - stated Kurtović.

He also emphasized that the ESV adopted a conclusion that a general collective agreement be signed in the coming period, and a law on the minimum wage be adopted so that it is no longer defined by decrees.

At today's session, at the proposal of Kraljević, the ESV supported the Decree on the payment of tax-exempt aid to workers in 2026, which will be on the agenda of the next session of the FBiH Government.

According to this decree, employers in the Federation of BiH will be able to pay workers a tax-exempt allowance of up to 300 KM per month for the months from January to June 2026.