When Novalić Explains: Employer Trained a Worker, and the Law Difference is in Two Colors

Politically inexperienced Prime Minister of FBiH Fadil Novalić commented on the Labour Law for Al Jazeera, which has recently caused much speculation as to whether it protects or diminishes workers' rights, reports the BH News Agency Patria.

He stated that the Labour Law is necessary for our society as the first in a series of reform laws that mean new reforms and new employment, which mean a new business climate and environment when it comes to the economic reality in BiH.

- The Labour Law, for those who have read it, and I have noticed that few people have read it, does not have any significant content that is controversial for the union, employers, or the government. There is nothing controversial for Ms. Mogherini or the EU either; it signifies our willingness to undertake economic reforms – said Novalić.

He stated that this law was not created by the IMF or the World Bank, but he has the impression that even 'the IMF and the World Bank have not read it thoroughly enough.'

- We have some who claim it is a victory for neoliberal capitalism, which sounds awkward in our heritage. And on the other hand, we have employers who say it is acceptable to the extent that it represents a step forward. It truly offers no fewer rights to workers, but rather more. It offers no revolution, except that in terms of existing collective agreements, it eliminates damage, primarily for the public sector, for budgets – said Novalić.

On the other hand, the inexperienced prime minister very vividly described how the public became acquainted with the Labour Law.

- We put the old law in one color and the new law in another color on the portal. Everyone who is literate, and everyone is literate today, can read the law.

He also tried to explain a provision of the Law related to the dismissal of employees who have been on sick leave for a longer period.

- If a person is on sick leave for more than 6 months, the employer cannot guarantee the same job. Because within those 6 months, the employer had to replace them. There is a possibility for the employee to return to that position with reduced work capacity, while in those 6 months, the employer trained a new employee who fits that job equally well or better. In that case, the employer is obliged to find an alternative solution for them, not to dismiss them – said Novalić.

Speaking about the exclusion of the Union in the final stages of negotiations on the Labour Law, Novalić said that they, as the creators of the law, decided to consider the positions of the unions at times, employers at other times, and a middle ground that seemed optimal to them. He stated that the Union is not interested in workers' rights at all, but rather in preserving its position.

- We have a privileged part of society, public companies and public officials, and we must be realistic that the union is financed from these sources, and very little from the real sector. Under the guise of protecting workers, this union is pushing a narrative because they are interested in preserving the public sector as it is their base. They are not interested in workers' rights – said Novalić.