First Collective Agreement Signed for Employees in BiH Institutions

(Patria) - Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (VMBiH) Borjana Krišto signed on Wednesday, with representatives of three unions, a collective agreement for employees in BiH institutions.

On behalf of employees in BiH institutions, the collective agreement was signed by President of the Union of Civil Servants and Employees in BiH Institutions Radenko Mirković, President of the Union of Police Bodies of BiH Dragan Krvavac, and President of the Union of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH Ana Mrnjavac.

- This is truly a very important moment because this collective agreement we signed contains nine chapters and regulates in a more precise manner everything that is the basis of the Law on Salaries and the Law on Rights, and regulates the mode of work, conditions, material and legal rights, rights to annual leave, and other rights - said Krišto.

She added that she hopes this act will "lead to stronger and more fluid rights."

- Given all the problems faced by employees in BiH institutions, I hope that this act will truly lead to more fluid and stronger rights, more precisely regulated rights, that is the common goal of representatives of government bodies and all of us in these institutions - said the Chairwoman of VMBiH.

She emphasized that this collective agreement is not just a formal legal document, but the result of dialogue, compromise, and legal solutions.

- This document uniquely shows how through dialogue, mutual understanding, and realistic demands, the best solutions can be reached that are currently needed for all employees and civil servants. I am convinced that we will continue this social dialogue in the future in the context of strengthening all rights of employees, both police and the Indirect Taxation Authority, and civil servants and employees of BiH institutions - said Krišto.

Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina Davor Bunoza said that one of the biggest compromises for BiH is how to retain staff who go to other countries.

- We are aware that BiH cannot compete with some countries, but considering that this is the first time in history that a collective agreement is being concluded and that through dialogue we have reached certain solutions, practical solutions that the law did not recognize, I hope this is the beginning of good cooperation - said Bunoza.

He added that work has also begun on the Labor Law of BiH institutions.

- We are very close to making amendments to the Law on Civil Service, our focus is also on workers and civil servants because only a satisfied worker is actually a worker who will deliver results. Without them, we cannot function - said Bunoza.

President of the Union of Police Bodies of BiH Dragan Krvavac emphasized that this is the greatest act that unions could conclude with the Council of Ministers.

- Until now, employees in state institutions had only their obligations, and very few rights. Now we have both rights and obligations, so this is a good thing - said Krvavac.

President of the Union of the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH Ana Mrnjavac said that this is a historic moment for that union.

- Given that for decades these institutions at the state level did not have such a document, I think this is something very important for all of us. I am satisfied that all our colleagues, participants in the negotiating team, through good communication and dialogue, managed to find the best solutions for all of us - said Mrnjavac.

President of the Union of Civil Servants and Employees in BiH Institutions Radenko Mirković stated that the collective agreement covers 22,500 employees in BiH institutions, including police and military officers at the state level.

- We have launched an initiative to increase salaries for employees with secondary and higher education in accordance with the laws on minimum wages in the entities. According to legal regulations, the minimum wage in the Republika Srpska should be 900 marks, and in the Federation of BiH 1,000 marks - said Mirković, adding that a discussion on this issue is expected at the session of the House of Peoples, scheduled for March 4.

He particularly emphasized the importance of signing the collective agreement, noting that Krišto announced this step in her exposé, while Minister Bunoza was the key bearer of activities, and stated that this day will be written in golden letters.

Earlier, the Council of Ministers of BiH said that this is the first collective agreement for employees in institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina that regulates mutual rights and obligations of the contracting parties in the areas of work and employment relationship, salaries and compensations of civil servants, police officers and employees in BiH institutions, based on legal and by-laws in this area.