Gratz: Shutting down the Zenica Steelworks is a political crime against workers and the state

(Patria) - Dennis Gratz, a member of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has warned of the serious consequences of the shutdown of integrated steel production at the Zenica Steelworks, which begins on April 22.

As Gratz states, this is not a sudden development, but the result of months of ignoring the problem, despite clear warnings from the management and demands for urgent action by the competent institutions.

According to him, the Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nermin Nikšić, and the Federal Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry, Vedran Lakić, had all the necessary information and the obligation to react in a timely manner, but an adequate response at the crucial moment was lacking.

“From tomorrow, the plants that have carried the industrial development of Zenica for decades will be shut down. Around 1,200 workers will lose their jobs, and behind those numbers are families who will be left without income. This is not statistics; this is a real and severe social consequence,” Gratz emphasized.

He further warned that protective measures were not adopted in time, and that responsibility is now being shifted between different levels of government, while reactions only come when the process is already in its final phase.

Due to the entire situation, Gratz submitted parliamentary questions to the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, seeking answers about when the authorities were informed of the problem, what specific measures were taken, why no action was taken earlier, and what is planned after the production halt.

He also requested complete documentation of communication between the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the management of the Zenica Steelworks over the past year, in order to determine whether there was a serious institutional attempt to resolve the problem or whether the process was left to develop without an adequate response.

“This is not just about one factory. This is about the government's attitude towards production, industry, and jobs in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Gratz stated, adding that the public must receive clear answers about responsibility for this outcome.