Firefighters in FBiH now 'fighting fire in their own backyard': Law that strips them of rights and benefits is being changed

(Patria) - A thematic meeting of trade union representatives of firefighters from all over the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) will be held tomorrow at the premises of the Professional Firefighting Brigade of Sarajevo Canton.

As announced, the meeting will discuss the announced amendments to the Law on Fire Protection and Firefighting of FBiH.

The proposed amendments to the Law on Fire Protection and Firefighting, which the Government of the Federation of BiH has sent to the parliamentary procedure under an urgent procedure, relate to the deletion of two important articles, 112 and 114, which concern the rights and benefits of firefighters, i.e., the salary supplement that firefighters have for special working conditions.

"At the meeting of firefighters from Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zenica, Mostara, and other cities, the adoption of conclusions and a plan for further joint activities to protect the rights of all firefighters in FBiH is expected. Firefighters in Sarajevo Canton have already undertaken certain activities, and in the past week, they have held a series of meetings with parliamentarians from both houses of the FBiH Parliament, with the aim of informing them about the consequences that could arise from such crude actions by the legislator," the statement said.

Representatives of the Trade Union Organization of the Professional Firefighting Brigade of Sarajevo Canton held several meetings this week with federal deputies, as well as other holders of executive and legislative power in FBiH.

The President of the Trade Union Organization (SO) of the Professional Firefighting Brigade of Sarajevo Canton, Mirsad Karić, the Commander of the Professional Firefighting Brigade of Sarajevo Canton, Kemal Cacan, Zerina Avdić (SO PVB KS), and the President of the Independent Trade Union of Civil Servants and Employees of Sarajevo Canton, Elvis Zornić, informed the parliamentarians about the fact that these legal changes worsen the financial situation of firefighters in the Federation of BiH.

At meetings with SDA deputy in the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, Jasmina Tokić Bišćević, and the head of the Caucus of the Party for BiH in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly, Muamer Bandić, and deputy in the FBiH Parliament, Haris Silajdžić (SBiH), and delegate in the FBiH Parliament, Enes Pešteka (SBiH), discussions were held on further activities to comply with the decision of the Constitutional Court of FBiH and reach a permanent solution within this law that does not reduce the rights of firefighters.

Support was expressed for the justified demands of firefighters and confidence that the mentioned amendments will not be adopted.

"Firefighters in Sarajevo Canton have already undertaken certain activities, but we have noticed that colleagues from other cantons in the Federation of BiH are not informed about these changes. It is true that this is an obligation to implement the decision of the Constitutional Court, but I must emphasize that it is not necessary to crudely delete these two important articles that regulate our compensation. As stated in the explanation of the decision, the legislator should amend the law in such a way that it does not create an obligation for lower levels of government without secured financial resources," explains Mirsad Karić.