Nikšić blames FBiH Government for the situation: SDP BiH will be the voice of miners in every parliament

(Patria) - Leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) BiH Nermin Nikšić commented on the situation in the mines and accused the Government of the Federation of BiH of not resolving accumulated problems.

"The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina announced the restructuring of mines back in January of this year. In April, Prime Minister Novalić pompously claimed that no one should reduce miners' wages. Of course, no one can reduce miners' wages without the Government, because the management of Elektroprivreda BiH is just an extended arm of the Prime Minister and the Government. The management of JP EP FBiH is accountable to the FBiH Government for its work," says Nikšić.

Today, it is completely clear that for the past ten months, the Government of the Federation has been preparing the ground and looking for a suitable opportunity to quietly, without the fanfare with which they announced their care for them, reduce miners' wages, he adds.

"They recognized an opportunity in the fact that public and media attention is focused on the blockade of state institutions carried out by Milorad Dodik and SNSD. It is obvious to them that while the cameras are focused on the crisis at the state level, it is an ideal opportunity to try to realize their intentions and reduce miners below the poverty line. So, while Dodik is destroying the state, SDA's Prime Minister Novalić is destroying the mines. While during the pandemic and crisis, when everyone is investing in production incentives, he is pursuing a stepmotherly policy towards miners, on the other hand, he announces an increase in the salaries of civil servants," Nikšić believes.

I have nothing against increasing the salaries of civil servants if it is justified by the budget, he adds, but it is unacceptable that the burden of the economic crisis is borne by the miners.

"SDP BiH representatives in the FBiH Parliament have regularly warned about the poor position of miners, fought for their rights, and endured false accusations, but we have never faltered in seeking better conditions for miners. Miners know this well, and now it is completely clear that SDP unequivocally supports miners. That is why I want to clearly state today that I fully support tomorrow's miners' protests and that the fight for miners continues, and that SDP BiH will be their voice in every parliament," he stated.

Nikšić says that for SDP BiH, there is no doubt when it comes to the miners' demands, and any reduction in wages at a time when the cost of living and the price of the union basket are constantly rising represents a targeted attack on their existence and a path to reducing miners and their families to begging.

"If we allow the crowd from the federal government to do this to people who have been the engine of development for years, breaking production records of 'black gold', then we truly do not deserve anything better than this corrupt and criminal government," concluded the SDP leader.