President of the ZOI '84 Trade Union Forced into Retirement Despite Not Meeting Conditions

The lawyer for the president of the state-owned company ZOI '84 Trade Union stated that he cannot yet comment on the termination of his client's employment contract, as the official decision from the company has not yet been received, reports the BH News Agency Patria.

Alija Hodžić, president of the ZOI 84 Company Trade Union, stated to the media today that he was informed by ZOI '84 that he had received a decision terminating his contract with the company, meaning they are forcing him into retirement. Hodžić said he does not wish to accept this decision, claiming that his retirement is unlawful.

In a conversation with the Patria news agency, Hodžić warned that the director of ZOI '84, Midhat Hubijar, violated the law on two counts by deciding to send him into retirement.

- Firstly, I am on sick leave, and the employer was not allowed to terminate my contract. Secondly, I do not meet the conditions for retirement – Hodžić said.

ZOI '84 calculated that Hodžić is entitled to retirement if he were to include the service he earned as a member of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the aggression from 1992 to 1995 in his work record. However, Hodžić's lawyer, Sead Temim, explains to Patria that Hodžić has the right not to include this service in his work record.

- It is his right to decide what he wants to do with that service; he can include it in his work record if he wishes, and he can also choose not to. The law allows him to do as he pleases – Temim said. Hodžić announced that he will seek justice in court.

The company ZOI '84 was founded 30 years ago, during the 14th Winter Olympic Games held in Sarajevo in 1984. After the games concluded, the company was entrusted with managing the largest sports hall in the country, Zetra, sports centers on Bjelašnica and Igman mountains, as well as several other important facilities in Sarajevo.