Meeting at the FBiH Government: Develop a mine reorganization plan, but also continue investments

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Federal Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Nermin Džindić held a meeting at the FBiH Government headquarters in Sarajevo today with the Director of Elektroprivreda BiH Bajazit Jašarević, as well as representatives of the Independent Union of Miners in FBiH and the Union of Workers in FBiH Mines.

The meeting discussed overcoming the current situation in the mines, specifically the appointment of mine managements, which are currently without management, as soon as possible, and the dismissal of supervisory and management boards of mines that are operating at a loss.

The FBiH Government made a decision at an emergency session on Saturday to introduce a moratorium on all new hires in the mines and to suspend ongoing recruitment processes. Exceptionally, the FBiH Government may approve new hires if there is a genuine need.

“We have had bad experiences where managements unnecessarily hire a certain number of workers in the mines when their term is ending. The Government has opted for this move and has prohibited mine managements from hiring an unnecessary number of workers. Those who can hire workers are mines that develop a reorganization plan in accordance with the programmatic goals of the FBiH Government and the management of Elektroprivreda. After the management of Elektroprivreda approves such a plan, it will come to the Ministry, and we will give consent at the Government session for every project that is economically justified and sustainable. However, we will no longer allow the accumulation of surplus employees, we are clear on this issue,” said Džindić.

It was agreed that a mine reorganization plan would be adopted within 60 days, that it would be transparent, and that it would be presented to the miners, Elektroprivreda, the Ministry, and the Government for explanation. The Director of JP Elektroprivreda BiH, Bajazit Jašarević, stated that EP BiH remains committed to the concept that the only way to make the energy sector long-term sustainable is to continue investing in coal mines that are part of the Concern.

“This will make coal production and mine operations more efficient, and in parallel with that, starting from the reorganization mandated by the FBiH Government's decision, we will more decisively embark on developing a restructuring program for each of the mines,” said Jašarević.

The President of the Union of Workers in FBiH Mines, Sinan Husić, said that on September 18, they presented their position to Minister Džindić on measures that should be taken in the mines of the Concern, and at today's meeting, they agreed on activities for this week related to the new collective agreement. When asked about potential worker surplus, Husić stated that they will maintain their position that they will not allow anyone to leave any workers on the street, without support.