Employers Demand Political Parties Support Measures for Economic Relief and Improvement

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Executive Board of the Employers' Association of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the text of an address to political parties at a session held on Thursday, August 30, 2018, in Ključ. The address, titled "What Employers Expect from the Government," was presented to the media and the public at a press conference. It calls on political parties participating in the upcoming general elections to support employers' demands for a better business environment.

- The proposed solutions by the Employers' Association of FBiH aim to relieve the economy, improve the business environment to enable stable operations for UPFBiH members, increase employment, combat the grey economy, simplify administrative procedures, ensure equal treatment of the private/real sector compared to the public sector, strengthen social dialogue, and intensify cooperation with the FBiH Government to achieve an adequate business environment - said Adnan Smailbegović, President of the Employers' Association of FBiH.

This document will be sent to all political parties participating in the upcoming elections, with a request to support the proposals of the Employers' Association of FBiH.   

- The Employers' Association of FBiH expects a response from political parties before the end of the election campaign. Based on their response to our proposals, citizens will be able to assess their stance on resolving economic problems and improving the standard of living for citizens - emphasized Mladen Pandurević, Director of UPFBiH.

Employers demand that the legislative and executive authorities adopt the proposed solutions, which include:

VAT

- Postponing the VAT payment deadline to the last day of the month for the previous month
- Paying VAT upon invoice collection for craftsmen and small businesses
- Abolishing the right to deduct VAT for unpaid invoices
- Amending the Rulebook on the Application of the VAT Law:

a) introducing the obligation to pay VAT to foreign carriers for passenger transport services,
b) establishing the principle of reciprocity for VAT refunds, i.e., creating a legal framework for concluding bilateral agreements with other countries

ECONOMIC RELIEF AT ALL LEVELS

- Reduction of parafiscal levies
- Prevention of new levies
- Reduction of labor costs
- Introduction of tax reliefs 
- Reduction in the number and amount of administrative fees

IMPROVING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

- Amendment of the Law on Public Procurement
- Decision regarding export duties on logs and wood semi-finished products
- Amendment of the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance (PIO/MIO) (possibility of employment for individuals who have met the conditions for retirement)
- Simplification and acceleration of administrative procedures
- Acceleration of court proceedings
- Adoption of the Law on Incentives

ENABLING SOCIAL PARTNERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DRAFTING AND ADOPTION OF ALL LAWS AND SUBORDINATE ACTS OF INTEREST TO EMPLOYERS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT:

1. Initiative for amendments and supplements to the Rules of Procedure of the FBiH Government

2. Initiative for amendments and supplements to the Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament

3. Initiative for amendments and supplements to the Rules of Procedure of the House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament

4. Comments in the form of amendments to the Draft Regulation on the Assessment of the Impact of Regulations

5. Initiative for amendments and supplements to the Rules and Procedures for Drafting Laws and Other Regulations of FBiH

6. Request for the formation of a coordination body for parafiscal levies in FBiH

IMPROVE THE WORK OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCILS AT ALL LEVELS AND FORM NEW ONES

URGENT ADOPTION OF FIVE PROPOSED LAWS BY UPFBIH

- Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Health Insurance                                                        
- Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Professional Rehabilitation, Training, and Employment of Persons with Disabilities     
- Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Privatization        
- Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Fiscal Systems            
- Law Amending the Law on Road Transport          

ADOPTION OF 19 LAWS TO BE PREPARED BY UPFBIH

1. Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Health Insurance                                                        
2. Law on Financial Operations
3. Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Professional Rehabilitation, Training, and Employment of Persons with Disabilities       
4. Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Business Companies
5. Law on Registration of Business Companies 
6. Law on Bankruptcy
7. Law on Occupational Safety
8. Law on Strikes
9. Law on Peaceful Resolution of Disputes
10. Law on Employment Mediation and Social Security of Unemployed Persons
11. Law on Income Tax
12. Law on Contributions
13. Law on Profit Tax
14. Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Privatization        
15. Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Fiscal Systems            
16. Law Amending the Law on Road Transport                  
17. Law on Accounting and Auditing
18. Law on Federal Administrative Fees and the Tariff of Federal Administrative Fees
19. Law on ESC (Economic and Social Council)

7. INITIATING WORK ON INTRODUCING FISCAL DEVALUATION