RS Government Illegally Compiling Lists of Workers 'Voluntarily' Waiving Personal Incomes

(Patria) - Lists of workers allegedly voluntarily waiving personal incomes in favor of the Solidarity Fund for the Reconstruction of Republika Srpska are being compiled without any legal basis and may serve as a means of pressure and discrimination against those who have not agreed to it. Therefore, Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) has filed a complaint with the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data of Bosnia and Herzegovina against the Ministry of Education and Culture of Republika Srpska, which sent a letter to all schools to compile lists of employees who voluntarily agreed to a salary reduction.

This method of implementing the Ministry's order undermines the proclaimed principle of voluntariness, as well as the basic principle of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data, which states that personal data in such a case may only be used to the extent and scope necessary to fulfill the purpose. In this case, the Ministry acted contrary to the principles of the law, as there is no legal basis for compiling the lists, and their creation creates a reasonable assumption that they could be used for unauthorized and illegal purposes, such as discrimination based on someone's refusal to accept a salary reduction.

TI BiH expects the Agency to act in accordance with the law, carry out an inspection, and order the cessation of such illegal processing of personal data of employees in the educational system of Republika Srpska. We note that claims have appeared in the public that directors are forcing employees to waive part of their income, about which the Confederation of Trade Unions of Republika Srpska has also spoken out.

TI BiH monitors all actions of authorities during the state of emergency, as well as potential cases of abuse and violations of citizens' rights. For example, due to media reports and footage from the BEMA footwear factory that appeared in the public, TI BiH submitted a complaint to the competent inspection authorities, requesting an urgent inspection due to non-compliance with health regulations during the epidemic.