Due to the FBiH Government's decision on the minimum wage: BHRT employees' salaries are in question

(Patria) - The FBiH Government's decision on the minimum wage requires salary adjustments for 465 BHRT employees.

It is already known that BHRT is facing financial problems due to unpaid taxes and debts from RTV FBiH and RTRs.

The implementation of the Government's decision would lead to the closure of BHRT. Does the BiH government intend to resolve the issue of BHRT's financing?

"In order to comply with the decision, net salary expenses would need to be increased by an additional one million and 500 thousand marks on a monthly basis.

BHRT does not have the revenue to ensure normal operations, let alone this additional financial burden," stated the BHRT Management Board.

It is clear that BHRT will not be able to implement the Federal Government's Decision without assistance from the budget. But the question arises - what kind of assistance can BHRT count on? Temporary assistance from the Federal Government - perhaps, but there is no solution from the state level this time either.

- The Federal Government is prepared to contribute to overcoming this problem, of course within the scope of the Federal Government's responsibilities.

No one has the right to expect us to go beyond our mandate. We want the Council of Ministers to initiate this matter, as it is a Public Service - said the Federal Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić.

- I hope there will be a solution so that the stable financing of BHRT and FTV does not become questionable, because this Decision now affects operations - stated the Minister of Communications and Transport of BiH Edin Forto two days ago.

Nevertheless, the responsible parties are "shifting" the responsibility, stating they cannot guarantee the financial stability of BHRT. Regardless, the trade union of this public service's employees demands that a way be found to comply with the Federal Government's Decision.

- Sixty percent of BHRT employees have a base salary lower than 800 marks, so that speaks volumes about our stance that the law should be respected and the FBiH Government's decision implemented - says Merima Kurtović-Pašalić from the Independent Trade Union of BHRT Employees.

In the meantime, BHRT employees have also faced restrictions through decisions of the Management Board.

- We respect the decision of the Management Board of Radio-Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the moratorium on hiring new staff, on potential contract changes, but we are already gradually reducing costs in every way possible without jeopardizing the program itself - explains the authorized director of BHT1, Neda Tadić.

However, it appears that BHRT, precisely in the midst of soaring prices and calls for boycotts, could leave its employees without salaries. Thus, employees, instead of celebrating the largest salary increase in BiH in the last 30 years, have to think about their existence.