Nikšić: Some employers will have to give up part of their profit, but it's time we introduced order in this country

(Patria) - Minister of Development and Crafts Vojin Mijatović said at today's press conference that 140,000 workers in the crafts, micro, and small enterprises sector have a registered minimum wage of 619 KM.

"More than 80,000 of those receiving 1000 KM will be covered by subsidies. Contributions for the minimum wage will be frozen by 80 percent," Mijatović said.

Speaking about the payment of subsidies after the budget is adopted, payments will be made quarterly.

Admir Omerbašić, who is the head of the Tax Administration of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by government authorization, addressed today's press conference, stating that it is difficult to determine when taxpayers pay wages "in envelopes".

- It is very difficult to get information about who pays wages in envelopes. However, the Tax Administration conducts continuous inspection supervision based on reports we receive from individual workers - stated Omerbašić.

Omerbašić emphasized that they have a large number of controls where they conduct supervision in cooperation with the competent Prosecutor's Offices and that owners will be prosecuted for tax evasion.

- Within the inspection supervision, we determined that the turnover recorded is ten times lower than what was recorded after the supervision was carried out. These are funds that taxpayers provide to pay workers wages in envelopes - he said.

He particularly emphasized the need to strengthen awareness and what it means to take a fiscal receipt.

- A citizen pays the price with all taxes, and if they do not receive a fiscal receipt, the company keeps those taxes - said Admir Omerbašić.

When asked why they did not wait for the adoption of the set of fiscal laws with this decision on the minimum wage, Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić said that they decided to proceed in this direction and that they are also working seriously on reforms and fiscal laws.

"The sooner we adopt them, the sooner this decision will cease to be in effect," Nikšić said.

The issue of linear wage increases will be resolved at the next session of the Economic and Social Council (ESV).

"Someone who had 900 KM will now have 1000 KM, and someone who had 1000 KM should have their salary increased. We talked about compensating for that by enabling those employers not to have additional costs," Nikšić said.

When asked what pensioners can expect, Nikšić said that regular harmonization of pension growth is ahead.

"Inflation is low, and pensions will increase based on that and the cost of living, but in accordance with the law. We paid 511 million from the budget to the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund for pensions during the past year. We all need to work together on the fiscalization law," Nikšić said.

Speaking about the salaries of state officials and employees, Nikšić said that there is a base of 480 KM which is multiplied by a certain coefficient.

During today's press conference, Nikšić listed multi-million profits of certain companies, whose directors are registered with a minimum wage of 620 KM or slightly more, which he considers a fraud.

"Some employers will have to give up part of their profit. We are not at war with anyone, but the time has come to introduce order in this country. There are employers who want to lay off workers and import Nepalis. But they will also have to pay them 1,000 KM," Nikšić said.