Adjourned Sessions of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly Scheduled to Resume: The Troika Reinstates Abolished Advisor Positions

(Patria) - In Sarajevo, the continuation of two working sessions of the Sarajevo Canton Assembly has been scheduled for today.

Starting at 9:00 AM, the fifth continuation of the 19th working session will take place, with the remaining agenda items not yet discussed being reports on the work and financial operations of public health institutions in the Sarajevo Canton.

Upon the conclusion of that session, the first continuation of the 18th working session has been scheduled, set to begin at 10:00 AM.

The agenda includes the Proposal for the Law on Amendments to the Law on Civil Service in the Sarajevo Canton, as well as the Proposal for the Law on Amendments to the Law on Salaries and Allowances in the Bodies of the Sarajevo Canton.

Regarding the amendments to the Law on Civil Service in the Sarajevo Canton, the position of advisor is being reinstated, even though it was abolished in 2017.

The then Prime Minister of the Sarajevo Canton was Elmedin Konaković (SDA). His current party, NIP, is part of the Sarajevo Canton Government, and with the help of Our Party and the SDP, they are reinstating the abolished positions.

The explanation states that the amendments are being made to harmonize the Law with federal regulations and other cantons regarding appointed persons - advisors. Additionally, the rights and duties of civil servants, as well as incompatible duties, are being specified.

Advisors can be appointed by members of the Sarajevo Canton Government, municipal mayors, and the city mayor, with a maximum of two each. In addition to advisors, new positions are being added to the job classifications: "chief internal auditor" and "internal auditor."



Regarding the term of advisors, it is tied to the officeholder who appointed them, and they can be dismissed at any time.

Incidentally, according to the register of service contracts of the Office for the Fight against Corruption of the Sarajevo Canton, it is evident that certain individuals are engaged under service contracts for extended periods. The adoption of this law will enable them to assume advisor positions with higher salaries than those provided under their service contracts.

This will further burden the budget of the Sarajevo Canton, which is already reduced by about 50 million KM compared to last year. It is difficult to expect that the Prime Minister, ministers, mayors, and the city mayor will forgo the opportunity to bring advisors into their cabinets.

Additionally, before the deputies is the Proposal for the Law on Amendments to the Law on Salaries and Allowances in the Bodies of the Sarajevo Canton, which adds the position of advisor to the officeholder and prescribes a coefficient of 6.40.