Who do the austerity measures in Canton Sarajevo apply to: Uk appointed an advisor, while the staffing of the Office for Srebrenica has been awaited for months

(Patria) - Since August 4, austerity measures adopted by the Government of Canton Sarajevo due to insufficient revenue inflow into the Budget of Canton Sarajevo have been in effect, and all public institutions in CS have been informed about them.

The precarious financial situation of the CS Government is also evidenced by the postponement of the vacation allowance payment for employees in the public sector of CS, which is expected to be paid by the end of this month. The CS Government has not specified the payment date for the vacation allowance, and unions are announcing protests and strikes.

In the austerity measures, the CS Government ordered a halt to hiring in the public sector, except for essential positions, and with additional approval from the CS Government.

However, regardless of the measures, CS Prime Minister Nihad Uk has engaged advisor Anita Škaljić as of September 1, whose monthly compensation will amount to around 3,000 KM. Uk previously also engaged communication strategy expert Damir Šehanović under a service contract. The monthly fee was 1,200 KM.

Regardless of the fact that this engagement does not constitute an employment relationship, but is appointed for the period while Uk serves as prime minister or until he dismisses her, the question arises as to why there is no money for other positions that are truly essential in institutions such as the Public Institution Djeca Sarajeva and primary and secondary schools in Canton Sarajevo, where competitions have been delayed.

Furthermore, for months the CS Government has not approved the hiring of several individuals to staff the CS Government Office for Srebrenica, even though the head of the Office, Mirza Ibrahimović, was appointed back in February this year. The Office should have six employees, but there is still no approval for these positions, even though the Office was established under the Law on Special Programs of CS for the Memorialization of Genocide, Support for Return and Development of Srebrenica, Assistance to Victims and Families of Victims of Genocide against Bosniaks in the UN Safe Zone “Srebrenica,” which was adopted in April 2022.

The CS Budget had already allocated funds for the operation of the Office, so it is unclear why it was not prioritized over some other hirings.

In the latest issue of the Official Gazette of CS, six decisions granting approval for hiring at the University of Sarajevo and its faculties, the Ministry of Communal Economy, and the Public Enterprise TVSA for multiple positions were published.

It appears that the austerity measures apply only to some institutions, while for others they do not.