Employment Service changed the Rulebook three times: Lawsuits filed due to job abolitions

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Public Institution Employment Service of Sarajevo Canton has changed the Rulebook on Work three times in the last just over two years, abolishing and establishing job positions. The epilogue of these events are lawsuits for labor disputes against this institution and the responsible person. The largest number of jobs were abolished during the tenure of director Midhat Osmanbegović, who resigned from that position in May 2018.

The first time the Rulebook was changed was in June 2016, when the position of 'assistant director' was introduced, and three positions of 'director's advisor' were abolished.

A new Rulebook on Work, with the consent of the Government of Sarajevo Canton as the founder, was adopted in December 2016. In the explanation provided to the Assembly of Sarajevo Canton representative Segmedina Srna-Bajramović, it is stated that the job systematization from December 2016 contains certain shortcomings, such as the need for a larger number of operational workers, especially in the Department for Legal Affairs, the need to form a new organizational unit and systematize new job positions, and the need to abolish a certain sector and job positions.

With the new Rulebook, some job positions ceased to exist, while for others the number of workers was increased or decreased. These amendments came into effect in March 2018. At that time, the position of 'assistant director', introduced in June 2016, was abolished.

- Analyzing the work of the Sector for Legal Affairs, it was determined that it did not justify its function, and for the sake of functionality and easier coordination, the Sector for Legal Affairs was abolished, so it was necessary to abolish the position of head of the Sector for Legal Affairs.

Also, the position of 'expert associate for information and public relations-PR' was abolished because it was assessed that the Service has no need for constant and continuous public appearances.

With these amendments, a new job position was established – senior expert associate for legal affairs in the Sector for Employment Incentive Measures and IT Affairs.

- It was deemed necessary to introduce this position, whose holder would be exclusively a graduate lawyer with passed professional administrative exam/public exam/general knowledge exam – the response states.

The selection of a new head of the Employment Service of Sarajevo Canton is underway. Criminal charges for abuse of official position, as well as other criminal offenses, have been filed against former director Osmanbegović.

Sources of the Patria agency from this institution claim that during the period when Osmanbegović was director, 30% of employees were on sick leave for more than six months. Incidentally, the Employment Service of Sarajevo Canton has just over 120 employees.

Osmanbegović is criticized for spending a huge amount of money on renovating the Employment Bureau, purchasing air conditioners and other equipment, while there are still more than 65,000 unemployed persons registered in Sarajevo Canton.