In 11 months, FBiH has 4,800 fewer employed compared to the end of 2024, FBiH Government cautious with new decisions

(Patria) - The session of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament was adjourned on November 21, during which the Information on job losses in the Federation of BiH in the period December 2024 - September 2025 was discussed at the initiative of opposition deputies, and it was never resumed nor were conclusions adopted.

Minister of Labor and Social Policy Adnan Delić then tried to convince the deputies that this year there has been a small but still an increase in the number of employed and that the number might be higher by the end of the year. He then stated that it is not fair to compare data from this year with the end of 2024.

The data that arrived today from the Tax Administration of FBiH does not support Delić and the Troika, who refuse to admit that their "shock reforms" led to a decline in the number of employed.

For example, in the first year of the mandate of the FBiH Government at the end of 2023, there were 544,345 employed, the following year 551,452, and at the end of November 2025, it amounts to 546,663.

In January of this year, the number of employed was 546,863, and at the end of November it was 200 persons lower. Compared to December 2024, there are 4,789 fewer employed.

Since November 2024, a ban on Sunday work for shops in FBiH has been in effect. In the trade sector, about 2,000 jobs were lost. Since January, the minimum wage was increased by 619 to 1,000 KM. Costs rose for small craftsmen, and many closed small businesses. The decline in the number of employed lasted until April, but the labor market could not return to the level of 2024.

From the beginning of July, the application of lower contribution rates for PIO and health insurance began, but there was no increase in employment. Wages did rise, more in the public administration sector than in the real sector. Regulations on assistance to private employers and subsidies for part of the contributions after the minimum wage increase are still in effect, as well as a regulation allowing employers to pay tax-free assistance to workers in the amount of 400 KM per month.

The FBiH Government did not fulfill its promise of an additional reduction in contributions by the end of the year, but the deadline was moved to the middle of next year.

By the end of this month, the Government, in agreement with unions and employers, should make a decision on the minimum wage for 2026, and possibly extend the regulations or at least one of them.

Prime Minister of FBiH Nermin Nikšić confirmed that he will not introduce differentiated minimum wages, but that there will be one amount. It is speculated that the minimum wage should amount to 1,100 KM.

The final decision should be known by the end of the year.