End of Peaceful Protests: Several Thousand People Show Support for Krivaja Workers

Several thousand residents of Zavidovići have shown support for the workers of Krivaja, whose management has not paid salaries or contributions, reports the Patria agency.

All companies in Zavidovići ceased operations between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. in a show of support for more than 700 Krivaja workers. Several thousand people gathered at the city stadium, where they told the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina that no one wants a dead Krivaja, because that would mean Zavidovići is dead as well.

Besim Husić, one of the representatives of Krivaja workers, told Patria that the gathering passed without incident, which further indicates that Krivaja workers only want jobs and to earn their wages honestly.

 The once-renowned company Krivaja was privatized in 2014 by a partnership group consisting of several smaller companies from Zavidovići and neighboring municipalities. Since the new owner failed to meet contractual obligations, the Municipal Court in Zenica recommended that the contract between the partnership group and Krivaja be terminated. Workers are now seeking the annulment of the contract and the sale of the company to a new owner. On the other hand, the partnership group does not accept such a proposal. They have not fulfilled what they agreed to when purchasing Krivaja, but they still refuse to give up the company's millions in assets.

Workers claim that the only thing the new owner did after entering Krivaja was to change the company's name to Krivaja Mobel, writes Patria.