Workers from Nepal and India increasingly working in Bosnia and Herzegovina

(Patria) - It is estimated that there are currently slightly more than seven thousand foreign workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the most sought-after professions being cooks, cleaners, carpenters, rebar workers, bricklayers, and joiners.

For nine months now, 28-year-old Lekh Nath from Nepal has been working for a company in Bijeljina. He says he is satisfied with the working conditions and chose Bosnia and Herzegovina for the good salary and favorable climate.

"Bosnia is a very good country. I previously worked in Dubai for eight years and have many years of sales experience. The working conditions are good, everyone is very kind to us. When we get sick or tired, they are there to help us. The climate in Bosnia is good, similar to Nepal, and this is a good place to live," Nath told BHRT.

According to estimates, there are currently more than 7,000 foreign workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mostly from Nepal, Bangladesh, and India. For 21-year-old Aagman Bist, BiH is a country where he sees his future.

"I didn't expect this country to be this good. We are not paid much in Nepal, and the salary here is good, and we all like it. The work is hard, but I have mastered it. I plan to stay here as long as I can," says Bista.

The total quota for employing foreigners in Bosnia and Herzegovina this year is 7,427 work permits. Of these, 4,500 are for the Federation of BiH, 2,000 for Republika Srpska, and the remainder for Brčko District, according to the BiH Employment Agency. The most foreign workers are currently employed in manufacturing, agriculture, and construction, according to the employment agency "Ino Balkan".

"Ino Balkan is currently the only licensed agency in Republika Srpska. The procedure itself is very demanding and takes several months, as it involves candidate selection, documentation preparation, issuance of work and residence permits, and registration of workers in employment," points out Dijana Berić from the "Ino Balkan" agency.

Mujo Hasić, president of the Employers' Association of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, states: "It is necessary to liberalize the arrival of foreign workers due to the insufficient number of domestic workers in the BiH labor market. We expect that the legal regulations in the coming period will speed up the process of bringing in labor."

In response to remarks that the import of labor is driving down wages in the country, employers respond that foreign workers are not cheap labor because their employment involves additional costs such as accommodation, integration, and administrative procedures.