First Non-Working Sunday for Retailers in FBiH on 17 November, Federal Inspection to Conduct Controls

(Patria) - Next Sunday, 17 November, will be the first non-working Sunday for retailers in this entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina after the adoption of the Law on Internal Trade of FBiH.

A meeting was held today in Sarajevo between the Federal Minister of Trade, Amir Hasičević, and representatives of the Employers' Association of FBiH, as well as the Director of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs, Ivana Prvulović.

“What we agreed on today is that 17 November will be the first non-working Sunday in the Federation, where workers will be able to have that day off and spend it with their families. This somehow marked this law; there were dilemmas about when it would be applied. Today we agreed on it, that is the first non-working Sunday after the Law on Internal Trade came into force,” said Minister Hasičević.

Answering journalists' questions about how this will affect shopping centres and caterers, Hasičević pointed out:

"We did not include caterers in this law; shopping centres are registered as rental facilities, so the shopping centre as such is not covered, and within the shopping centre, all activities that are not registered as trade will be able to operate.

Thus, for example, cinemas within shopping centres will be able to operate, as well as caterers.

When asked whether they expect that an employer could call a worker on Sunday for inventory or other similar activities, Hasičević replied that there is a theoretical possibility for such a thing, noting that inventory is done once or twice a year and falls under extraordinary work.

"It has actually been shown that very quickly, within three or four weeks from the date of application, consumer habits adapt quickly and there is no drop in turnover; in fact, that turnover from Sunday will be transferred to Saturday or Monday," explained Hasičević.

The Director of the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs, Ivana Prvulović, emphasised that the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs is ready to control the Law on Internal Trade.

"All aspects of control will be exhausted only with the adoption of appropriate rulebooks; however, what is important to note is that the Federal Market Inspectorate will work on Sunday, 17 November, and check whether retail facilities are closed. I will also insist on exhausting preventive and corrective mechanisms, but where necessary, we will also use repressive ones," said Prvulović.

She added that they have enough inspectors in the field, and fines range from 2,000 to 15,000 KM.

"We really worked hard here with the unions and the Consumer Association. As the Employers' Association, we believe that a result has been achieved that is, I would say, quite optimal, a good solution for both workers and employers," said Adnan Smailbegović, President of the Employers' Association of FBiH.

What was also emphasised is that the Law on Internal Trade of FBiH is harmonised with European directives and European standards, which brings Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to the European market.