KJKP 'Vodovod i kanalizacija' employee Samir Nuhbegović unlawfully dismissed, management retaliated

(Patria) - The Sarajevo Cantonal Board of the Independent Trade Union of Education and Upbringing has expressed support for the VIK employee who was unlawfully dismissed.

"The Trade Union is once again stepping in to protect workers, regardless of their sector, confirming its key role in preserving the dignity of labor. In situations of unlawful dismissals and other violations of the law, the trade union activates legal mechanisms, calls employers to account, and demands urgent institutional responses. In this case, our Trade Union is acting in support of the KJKP ˝Vodovod i kanalizacija˝ Sarajevo employee who was unlawfully dismissed," the statement reads.

It adds: "The KJKP ˝Vodovod i kanalizacija˝ Sarajevo employee was unlawfully dismissed, and according to positive legal regulations, the consent of the relevant Trade Union was not obtained for this. Otherwise, the named individual, who has been the head of the Control Service at KJKP “Vodovod i kanalizacija” Sarajevo for many years, announced via social media that he had been served with a dismissal notice which he considers unlawful. According to his statements, the decision was made without the consent of the Employees' Council, despite the legal obligation to obtain such consent. Nuhbegović points out that he is over 55 years old and a member of that very Council, thus belonging to the category of additionally protected employees according to the Law on Labor of FBiH".

"Samir Nuhbegović interprets the unlawful dismissal as an attempt at revenge by the management, claiming that the entire process is driven by internal power struggles, led by Executive Director Nermin Kapidžija and Head of the Procurement Department, Belma Lojić. Samir Nuhbegović has the status of a protected whistleblower with the Sarajevo Canton's Office for Combating Corruption and, in that capacity, has sanctioned unauthorized water consumption and prevented 'potentially corruptive incentives' for certain employees, which caused disapproval within the management. He sees the dismissal as a way to remove him because of the function he performed," the statement reads.

"The Trade Union believes that all of the above is not just Samir's problem, but a signal to all who believe that the system invariably protects their work positions. Therefore, the Cantonal Board Sarajevo of the 'INDEPENDENT TRADE UNION OF PRIMARY EDUCATION AND UPBRINGING OF THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA' provides full support to Samir Nuhbegović, demanding his immediate reinstatement and respect for legal procedures," it concluded.