Workers of Nova Željezara Zenica head to protests in Sarajevo ahead of the Council of Ministers session

(Patria) - Workers of Nova Željezara Zenica set off by bus this morning towards Sarajevo, where they will protest in front of the building of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of the session of the BiH Council of Ministers, which will once again consider the issue of introducing protective measures for domestic steel production.

The workers decided to protest after the Council of Ministers previously failed to adopt the proposal on temporary measures to protect the steel market, and a decision on this matter is expected to be taken again in a second round at today's session.

President of the Union of Nova Željezara Zenica, Rašid Fetić, said that the workers in Sarajevo will seek an explanation from the competent institutions and clearly express their dissatisfaction with the decisions made so far.

The company warns that if temporary measures on steel imports are not introduced, production could be halted as early as May, which would have serious consequences for workers and the domestic industry, including the potential loss of thousands of jobs in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sales Director of Nova Željezara Zenica, Saša Božić, stated that even if the Council of Ministers adopts the necessary regulation today, the plant would have to temporarily stop production because there is currently not enough coke until the next shipment arrives.

He cited the sharp increase in steel imports as the key reason for introducing protective measures, noting that from 2020 to 2025, imports have risen by as much as 317 percent, directly threatening domestic production and the survival of this company.