Why is the FBiH Government not implementing the Law on Financial Consolidation in the case of Konjuh?

Although it does not have capital participation in the economic company, nor is this company on the list of companies managed by it based on equity share, the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is ready to help "Konjuh" d.d. Živinice in order to solve the problem of connecting service for 52 workers who have acquired the right to retirement, reports the Patria News Agency.

This was stated at a meeting held today at the headquarters of the Federal Government in Sarajevo, whose representatives, led by the advisor to the federal prime minister Suvad Osmanagić, received the acting director of "Konjuh" Binasir Kadrić, representatives of the Supervisory Board, the union, and the strikers.

One of the most important goals of this government is to improve the economic environment and create conditions for new employment, regardless of whether the companies are state-owned or privately owned. In line with this commitment, the FBiH Government is ready to help find a solution for the workers of "Konjuh" as well. Although the employers were obliged to pay all liabilities for salaries and contributions, the Federal Government will strive to contribute to the solution of this vitally important workers' problem.

It was agreed that the workers would freeze their strike until Monday, January 25, 2016, when discussions and the search for a solution to connect their service will continue at the FBiH Government.

It was also assessed that the owners of this former wood industry giant, most of whom are from Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also from Slovenia and Croatia, did not pay enough attention to the proper management of the company so that it would not end up in the situation it is in now.

At the meeting, it was stated that "Konjuh" should soon get a foreign strategic partner, i.e., an employer, with whom intensive negotiations are underway, and that this partner should resolve the issue of employee salaries and contributions.

There are 287 workers employed in "Konjuh", of whom 95 are currently engaged in production, it was announced from the FBiH Government.

However, it is as clear as day that there is a simple solution for the aggrieved workers, because there is a Decision on financial consolidation of the economic company Konjuh, which was made during the time of the previous Government led by Nermin Nikšić, who also settled the debt for PIO.

The implementation of this decision should be monitored by Nermin Džindić, Minister of Energy and Mining, but now he apparently has other business than to resolve the fate of 20 workers.

According to this decision, the debt for healthcare is collected at the expense of the company's capital. The former FBiH Government connected the service for these workers a year ago, and the debt amount of KM 130,000 for healthcare is so minor that it is shameful that people have been on a hunger strike for nine days.

There is a Law on Financial Consolidation which regulates this. In the specific case, Konjuh should have signed an agreement with the Health Insurance Fund on the method of payment of the debt, but at the expense of capital, so that the shareholders' assembly of Konjuh would make a decision for the Fund to become a co-owner of the company for that amount.