Employers dissatisfied with meeting with Prime Minister Novalić

The Reform Agenda, with a special focus on tax reform aimed at relieving employers and reducing labor costs, was the topic of a meeting between the Prime Minister of the FBiH Government, Fadil Novalić, and members of the FBiH Employers' Association and numerous businessmen, which took place in Zenica. The meeting was arranged ten days earlier, and its planned duration was two and a half hours.

The number of participants (more than 150 businessmen from FBiH) showed how significant the topic of tax reform is for employers. Among others, employers from Sarajevo, Bihać, Široki Brijeg, Tuzla, Goražde, Tomislavgrad, Kiseljak, Travnik, Zenica, Posušje, Grude, Srebrenik, and other FBiH cities participated in the session.

Employers expressed their dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Novalić's approach to this topic by attending for only 45 minutes, and that he did not dedicate enough time to the problems and challenges faced by employers, nor did he offer quality answers to the businessmen's questions. The Prime Minister did not respond to the employers' request for economic relief and postponement of taxation on warm meal allowance, commuting, and holiday bonuses until the adoption of the new Law on Contributions and the Law on Income Tax.

In his presentation, Prime Minister Novalić focused on general statements and promises, without deadlines or methods for achieving them. Employers no longer want declarative support and understanding, but concrete measures and reforms, immediately. The goals of the FBiH Employers' Association and its members are an adequate business environment and a reduction in labor costs, so that domestic employers are competitive in the market.

While the Government is only declaratively in favor of economic relief, legislative authorities have introduced more than ten regulations imposing new burdens in the last year alone.

The FBiH Employers' Association desires a partnership with the FBiH Government, but with mutual respect. Mutual effort is necessary to improve partnership relations, for the benefit of general social interests.