KS Government extends indefinite employment freeze, also seeks retirement of eligible employees

(Patria) - The Government of Sarajevo Canton, at the end of December 2025, adopted a conclusion extending the moratorium on indefinite employment without prior consent from the KS Government during 2026 in all cantonal administrative bodies, independent cantonal administrations and independent cantonal administrative organizations, administrations and administrative organizations within ministries, public institutions, public funds, cantonal public utility companies, public enterprises and other budgetary and extra-budgetary beneficiaries.

Prior consent is not required for the indefinite employment of healthcare workers in public health institutions. There are 13 public health institutions in Sarajevo Canton facing a shortage of various staff, specialists, especially in health centers. Neither permanent competitions nor salary levels have contributed to filling vacant positions in healthcare.

The KS Government has approved that line ministers can give consent for filling job positions, but for a fixed term, while independent cantonal administrations and cantonal administrative organizations must seek consent from the KS Government for fixed-term employment.

The Government of Sarajevo Canton has requested all heads of budgetary and extra-budgetary beneficiaries to undertake all activities for the retirement of all employees who meet one of the conditions for retirement and to inform the KS Government. This concerns employees who are 65 years old or have 40 years of service, regardless of age.

Given that it is an election year, increased engagement of employees on a fixed-term basis or through service contracts is expected, so it will be interesting to follow public competitions in the coming period.

Data from the KS Anti-Corruption Office also shows an increase in engagement through service contracts in election years, indicating that in 2024, 2,166,739.59 KM was spent on service contracts in the public sector.

Thus, fewer and fewer details about contracts are being entered into the Register of Service Contracts, which raises the question of the responsibility of managers who engage in such activities.