Base increases but only on paper: Without adopted budget, no salary raises in BiH institutions

(Patria) - The Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, adopted individual decisions on the base amount for salary calculation and the amount of holiday pay for employees in BiH institutions for 2026.

The new base for salary calculation has been set at 690.86 KM, which will also be the amount of holiday pay, and is aligned with the Law on Salaries and Allowances in BiH Institutions and the Collective Agreement for Employees in Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The decision should apply from January 1 to December 31, 2026, and if the budget for the next fiscal year is not adopted by the end of this year, the new base for salary calculation will apply from the month following the adoption of the budget.

This is an increase in the base compared to 631.50 KM set for 2025, but it has not yet been implemented due to the non-adoption of the budget, which is why the base of 600 KM from 2024 is still used for salary calculation.

Today, the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, met with representatives of representative trade unions, including the Union of Civil Servants and Employees in BiH Institutions, the Union of Police Agencies of BiH, and the Union of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH.

Trade union representatives expressed concern over the current problems with the budget for 2025, emphasizing the negative consequences for employees in BiH institutions due to the delay in adopting the budget.

Krišto reminded of the role of the BiH Presidency institution as the authorized proposer of the budget law, noting that more than three months have passed since the budget was not submitted for further adoption procedure.

Krišto expressed understanding for the unions' concern as well as the seriousness of the situation, because the adoption of the budget directly affects the stability of institutions and the material and financial status of employees.