Amendments to Collective Agreement Signed: Healthcare Workers in Zenica-Doboj Canton Receive 10 Percent Salary Increase

(Patria) - Minister of Health of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, Aida Salčinović, as authorized representative of the Government of ZDK, today signed amendments and supplements to the existing collective agreement on the rights and obligations of employers and employees in healthcare, which enables an approximately 10 percent salary increase for healthcare employees, doctors of medicine, and dentists.

On behalf of the trade unions, the signatories were Elvis Cikotić, president of the Independent Professional Trade Union of Doctors of Medicine and Dentistry of ZDK, and Zaim Begić, president of the Trade Union of Healthcare Employees of ZDK.

"I am pleased that at today's meeting we emphasized that the Union does not only insist on salary increases but also on the conditions under which they will work. We are glad that we share the common stance that we should launch a historic project in the future. In the coming period, in about 10 days, we will present our plan for the construction of the new Cantonal Hospital Zenica and all construction and infrastructural works within the KBZ complex," said the Prime Minister of ZDK, Nezir Pivić.

Minister of Health of ZDK, Aida Salčinović, explained that the salary increase for healthcare employees will be achieved by increasing the hourly rate from the current 3.10 KM to 3.45 KM.

"With the amendments and supplements to the collective agreement signed today, employees' salaries will be increased by 10 percent," stated Minister Salčinović.

According to Elvis Cikotić, president of the Independent Professional Trade Union of Doctors of Medicine and Dentistry of ZDK, the base salary for doctors of medicine will be 2,800 KM, for specialists 3,500 KM, while the starting salary for medical technicians from October 1st this year will be 1,650 KM.

"We are satisfied with the signing of the amendments to the current collective agreement today. This is a continuation of the continuous increase, or rather, the improvement of the material position of employees in healthcare in ZDK," said Cikotić.

Zaim Begić, president of the Trade Union of Healthcare Employees of ZDK, said he is satisfied with the agreement and explained that regarding nurses in ZDK, they are second in terms of income, immediately after Sarajevo Canton.

Director of the Health Insurance Fund of ZDK, Omer Škaljo, explained that the amendments apply to 4,013 employees and that, by the end of this year, they will require additional funds in the amount of 2,600,000 KM.

Furthermore, due to amendments to the federal law, the ZZOZDK is obliged from July 1st this year to provide an additional almost 4,200,000 KM until the expiration of the current collective agreement in March next year.

"Through the engagement of the Government of ZDK, ZZOZDK, the Ministry of Health, and the Union, healthcare workers, who were only seventh in terms of income, are now immediately behind Sarajevo Canton, whose budget is significantly larger," stated Škaljo.

Cantonal Prime Minister Nezir Pivić emphasized that they are satisfied with the fact that they can improve the status of healthcare employees, just as they have done for all employees financed by the canton's budget, and that they care about employee satisfaction. He asserted that he is confident that they will also be satisfied with the new collective agreements to be signed next year.