UPFBiH: Ensure the movement of goods and do not stop production processes

The employers' crisis staff, formed on the initiative of the Employers' Association of FBiH, comprising representatives of the Employers' Association of FBiH and the Chamber of Commerce of FBiH, expect more significant and concrete measures from the Government of the Federation of BiH that will preserve jobs, protect domestic production, and help entrepreneurs cope with the consequences of the crisis caused by the coronavirus.

"The measures adopted by the Government of FBiH are not sufficient because the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which companies are facing, is leaving increasingly severe consequences, and it is already evident that employers alone will not be able to bear its burden. We emphasize that people's health is our priority and we support the measures being taken in that direction. However, we insist that the Government of FBiH adopt active measures to help entrepreneurs in FBiH more easily overcome the consequences that companies are already facing in their business operations and preserve jobs," say the Employers' Association of FBiH.

The UPFBiH insists on the formation of a Compensation Fund at the FBiH level from funds intended for the economy planned in the budgets, funds from the World Bank, IMF, EBRD, etc. Funds should be provided from the Compensation Fund for the payment of direct and indirect taxes. Furthermore, the Government of FBiH is asked to impose a moratorium on the payment of loans and obligations to employees by companies, and for this part of the obligations to be taken over by the Compensation Fund. It is also requested that banks be subject to a moratorium on the collection of loan installments from both companies and employees.

"We emphasize that economic activities must not stop, and in this regard, we call on crisis staffs formed at all levels not to adopt any drastic measures that would mean stopping all economic activities, such as going to work, production, or closing all sales and other facilities, as this could cause an economic collapse. The burden of the state of emergency and economic slowdown cannot and must not be placed on employers," the Employers' Association of FBiH points out.

The state institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina are asked to ensure the unimpeded movement of goods, as BiH companies still have orders from foreign clients that have not been canceled, so it is necessary to find a modality to ensure the delivery of orders.

The UPFBiH is also not satisfied with the Government's decision to include the Employers' Crisis Staff through the Economic and Social Council for the Territory of FBiH in the Crisis Staff of FBiH, but they expect the continuous work of the ESC FBiH to be ensured in that case. The first session of the ESC FBiH will be held on Thursday, and the Employers' Crisis Staff expects concrete measures to be adopted at that session to preserve jobs and protect the domestic economy.