SIPA and Other Agencies Remain 'Short-Sleeved': No Money in the Budget for Them, and Nešić Doesn't Care!

Written by: A. Čorbo-Zećo

The statement by state Finance Minister Srđan Amidžić that we have a deficit on the revenue side of 37 million KM and that he is now working with his team on calculations and plans to ensure the smooth functioning of institutions on one hand, and savings and a rational approach on the other, has stirred up spirits.

Translated, this means that it will not be possible to meet the demands of the Union of the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) and other state police agencies for an increase in the base salary to 650 KM and an increase in daily allowances to 60 KM. Once again, the state police remain 'short-sleeved' and with the lowest salaries compared to entity and cantonal interior ministries.

The agony of members of state police agencies has been going on for years, and there is no understanding for their needs.

Thus, neither Security Minister Nenad Nešić nor Finance Minister Srđan Amidžić have responded to the official letter from the Union in which the demands were expressed.

The last meeting of Nešić with the Union of Police Bodies in BiH was seven months ago, but the budget was not relevant at that time, so Nešić's stance remains unknown for now.

Edin Kahrimanović, president of the SIPA Union, told NAP that if their demands are not met, they will later decide on further actions.

“The Union, through the Union of Police Bodies in BiH in cooperation with the Unions of State Servants and Employees in BiH institutions, will make a Decision on further actions,” said Kahrimanović.

We remind you that representative unions operating at the level of institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina have addressed the Chairwoman and all ministers in the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a request for the adoption of a Decision on the base amount for salary calculation for 2024 in the amount of 650.00 KM, which, according to the provisions of the Law on Salaries and Allowances in Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, needed to be adopted no later than June 30 of the current year.

The requested increase by the representative unions is nothing more than the inflation rate for the first nine months of this year according to the estimate of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, amounting to 8.33%.

This time as well, bearing in mind that a large number of unresolved issues and problems faced by employees in institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina have accumulated, the representative unions have requested a new meeting with the aim of initiating social dialogue to find solutions to these issues related to the labor-law and material status of all employees in institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.