Forto without an answer regarding the purpose of collecting data on unvaccinated employees in the public sector

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The KS Government adopted a conclusion on August 12, which was published in the Official Gazette of KS on August 19, ordering the submission of information on the number of employees in institutions and public enterprises of Sarajevo Canton who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19.

“The heads of all ministries, services, institutes, cantonal administrations, funds, independent cantonal administrations, agencies, public institutions and public enterprises of Sarajevo Canton are tasked to submit information on the number of employees who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 disease to the Professional Service of the Government of Sarajevo Canton within 15 days. The Professional Service of the Government of Sarajevo Canton is tasked to inform the Government of Sarajevo Canton about the collected data after collecting the requested data from point 1 of this Conclusion,” the conclusion states.

According to Patria's information, data on vaccination among employees in the public sector of KS is being collected, but some employees do not want to provide data even though they are vaccinated, considering that the Government does not have a legal basis to request this type of information. 

We asked Prime Minister Edin Forto today on what legal basis this information was requested and for what purpose, but we did not receive an answer.

It should be reminded that vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory, nor is there such a regulation, and requesting this information is also considered pressure on employees.

Finally, the KS Government can request data on vaccinated citizens in KS through the ZZO KS, but the problem is that the system does not include citizens who were vaccinated outside of BiH (mostly in Serbia while there were no vaccines for mass immunization in Sarajevo), except for those who voluntarily registered on the ZZO KS application, which again would not provide precise data on unvaccinated citizens. 

Two legal experts consulted by Patria believe that the KS Government cannot request this data, especially since it concerns medical data, and the KS Government's conclusion is not supported by any legal solution, nor is it explained for what purpose the data will be used and whether this data is of public interest. 

Competent institutions do not have real data on the vaccination of the population, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH has initiated activities for the Republic of Serbia to provide data on vaccinated BiH citizens.