Decision of the FBiH Government: Borrowed 10 Million BAM for Current Spending, then Increased Allowances for Ministers and Advisors for Housing

(Patria) - The Government of the Federation of BiH has increased allowances for ministers and advisors for housing and separate living, as well as for civil servants and employees, by adopting two decrees regulating this issue.

In March, the FBiH Government adopted the Decree on Allowances for Members of the FBiH Government and their Advisors that do not have the character of salary and the Decree on Allowances that do not have the character of salary, which were published in the Official Gazette of FBiH (No. 29/25) on April 18 this year, writes Istraga.ba

In this regard, on February 19, the FBiH Government took out a short-term revolving credit facility with ASA Banka D.D. Sarajevo in the amount of 10 million BAM for current spending. The interest rate on this credit is 3 percent, and the repayment period is 10 months.

The decrees regulate that members of the FBiH Government whose place of residence is more than 70 kilometers away from the seat of the institution where they are employed are entitled to an allowance for separate living from their family in the amount of 300 BAM per month.

“Members of the FBiH Government whose place of residence is more than 70 kilometers away from the seat of the institution where they are employed, who are not provided with official accommodation, are entitled to an allowance for renting an apartment for official needs and reimbursement of accommodation costs, in the amount of 611 BAM per month,” states the Decree on Allowances for Members of the FBiH Government and their Advisors that do not have the character of salary.

For members of the FBiH Government whose place of residence is more than 70 kilometers away from the seat of the institution where they are employed, who are provided with official accommodation, they are entitled to reimbursement of costs in the amount of 611 BAM per month.

The decree regulates that advisors in the FBiH Government receive the same amount for official accommodation of 611 BAM per month if their place of residence is more than 70 kilometers away from the institution, while for separate living from their family they receive 50 BAM less compared to government members, i.e., 250 BAM per month.

Civil servants whose residence is more than 70 kilometers away from the place of the civil service body will receive the same monetary amount as advisors in the Government for separate living from their family in the amount of 250 BAM per month, while for accommodation costs at the place of work they will receive 611 BAM per month.

This decree regulates that the basic salary of a civil servant and employee is increased by at least 50 percent for overtime work, by at least 30 percent for work on non-working days, by at least 35 percent for night work, and by at least 50 percent for work on state holidays.