Employment Fair 'Look for Your Job' Announced - October 6th and 7th in Sarajevo

(Patria) - A press conference was held today at the building of the Government of the Federation of BiH to announce the second Employment Fair "Look for Your Job", which will be held on October 6th and 7th at the Hills Hotel in Sarajevo.

The Federal Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Adnan Delić, emphasized that the goal of the fair is to create a recognizable space for connecting employers and job seekers throughout the Federation of BiH.

"We want to provide free access to all interested parties, and to specifically focus on the employment of persons with disabilities and women, especially those with secondary vocational education. Last year's experience has shown that this format yields real results. I especially thank the partners and co-organizers – the Federal Employment Bureau and the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities," said Minister Delić.

Haris Čuljević, spokesperson for the Federal Employment Bureau, emphasized that the Bureau is actively investing in employment measures and that the fair represents an additional opportunity to strengthen direct contacts between employers and the unemployed:

"Participation in the organization of the fair represents our additional activity in our efforts to enable direct contact between employers and people looking for jobs. Last year's experience has shown us how much such events can bring concrete and positive results, not only in terms of new employment but also in strengthening cooperation between institutions, employers, and unemployed persons," says Čuljević.

The address by the director of the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities of the Federation of BiH, Ahmet Baljić, attracted particular attention, who pointed out that the Fund has allocated 16.7 million KM this year for measures to support the employment of persons with disabilities.

"Of this amount, 8 million KM is intended for new employment, 3.6 million KM for employment development in disability enterprises and sheltered workshops, and 2.4 million KM for self-employed craftsmen. In addition to financial assistance, the Fund also offers training, retraining, and even covers the costs of professional exams. It is particularly significant that this year's fair coincides precisely with the period when the Fund's public calls are open, which will enable employers and persons with disabilities to immediately seize the opportunity and apply for available funds. In this way, we are currently ensuring the sustainability of employment for more than 4,000 persons with disabilities in the Federation of BiH," explained Baljić.

Jo-Anne Bishop, UN Women Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, also addressed the press conference, emphasizing that 60% of women in BiH are still unemployed, and that this year's fair will be a strong platform for inclusive employment and raising the visibility of women in the labor market:

"During the fair, we are placing a special focus on the issue of unpaid care work, which continues to be a barrier to greater employment of women. Through panel discussions, stands, and the Geronto Housekeeper program, we want to show that inclusive employment strengthens families, communities, and society as a whole," stated Bishop.

The organizers once again invited all citizens of the Federation of BiH to visit the Hills Hotel in Ilidža on October 6th and 7th and take the opportunity to connect with numerous employers, get informed about current employment programs, and, thanks to the open public calls from the Fund, immediately receive support and practical information for applying for available measures and projects.