Kurtović on Dodik's call: I guarantee that not a single employee wants to leave BiH institutions

(Patria) - RS President Milorad Dodik called on members of the Serb nationality working in BiH institutions to leave them, threatening to declare them permanent traitors if they do not.

However, the head of the Alliance of Independent Trade Unions of BiH, Samir Kurtović, believes that it is almost impossible for an employee at the state level to leave.

Kurtović explains that hiring in administrative bodies, including the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and the Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA) of BiH, is very difficult, and that every employee must go through this process in accordance with the law. And it, he adds, takes place in three phases.

- So, all those employees who entered the BiH institutions should remain in the institutions and do their jobs. They are fully protected by law, and we, as a union, protect the rights of workers and improve their status. That is our job as a union.

We do not interfere in politics, but believe me, what has been proposed is almost impossible to achieve. Imagine someone who has been working in BiH institutions for the last 10-15 years leaving now; the question is where they will find employment.

They would have to go through the procedures prescribed by law again. I guarantee that not a single employee wants to, nor will they, leave BiH institutions, SIPA, or OSA administrative bodies. They will certainly remain where they are now - Kurtović said tonight as a guest on the show '7Plus' on Hayat Television.

All of them, he adds, do very difficult and demanding jobs, and they must continue to be independent, but also have continuity in their work. They must respect the administrative bodies and the laws under which they got their jobs.

- All those who would heed the politicians' calls would not be able to return to work and would effectively be left without a job. They would have to go through that procedure again, and it's questionable whether that person would get the job the second time - says Kurtović.

He adds that the Union he leads has excellent cooperation with trade unions in RS, FBiH, and at the BiH level.

- We cooperate exceptionally well and effectively. If institutions cooperated like the trade unions from RS, FBiH, and BiH cooperate, believe me, Bosnia would be completely different.

We, as trade unions, are already members of the European Union. The public must know that no employee in BiH institutions will voluntarily leave their workplace, as this is not a legal solution.

Believe me, the result of our good cooperation is the fact that the state union of employees has a collective agreement for the first time in 30 years.

We now expect and tell politicians that they should behave correctly and treat employees, especially in BiH institutions, responsibly and at a high level - emphasizes Kurtović.

Asked if any absences from work are being recorded, Kurtović replies:

"It is possible that someone is using annual leave or sick leave, and we have no information that anyone has left their job. The law prescribes procedures in such cases, and I do not think anyone can fare well because of this and will be fired.

Returning to the previous job would be indescribably difficult, and therefore I am convinced that no one will leave their workplace and will continue to perform their job professionally and responsibly".

Kurtović also adds that trade unions have not received a single complaint about pressure to leave so far, which he considers very important.