Zenica miners stop work due to unpaid May salary and unremitted contributions for pensioners

(Patria) - The remaining miners of the Subsidiary Company Zenica Brown Coal Mine, who stopped work on Friday, gathered today in front of the administrative building to protest the non-payment of their May salary - Nedžad Duraković, president of the Zenica Brown Coal Mine Trade Union, told reporters gathered.

He notes that they were supposed to receive their May salary on June 25, but they had to stop work again to secure their earned salary.

- Most of the remaining workers are here, but some are at their work posts. We, from this gathering, will state our demands that must be met so that we can further organize and continue the work planned for the closure of both shafts, as well as RMU Zenica itself - said Duraković.

The first demand, he adds, is the fastest possible payment of the May salary, then securing funds for the payment of the June salary by the end of this month, and securing funds for the retirement of workers who met the conditions for retirement last year.

- They have not retired to this day because their contributions have not been paid. Health insurance for all 525 people is also a problem, as they cannot receive medical treatment or validate their health insurance cards.

The sixth issue is how this government - the ruling company Elektroprivreda BiH, the relevant ministry, and the Government of the Federation of BiH - intends to finally resolve RMU Zenica? Where is the law on the closure of RMU Zenica? When will the operational funds foreseen by the World Bank loan be available to RMU Zenica - said Duraković.

As early as 16 months ago, in February 2024, Vahid Ridžal submitted a retirement request, which was rejected after six months.

- The case is now in court. It is sad to say that the Management behaves like this after so many years. They have not resolved the issue for, it seems, 22 miners from 2024, and besides that, perhaps there are another 50 people - says Ridžal.

Ridžal says he has been without any income for 16 months, and according to the law, he points out, he should have received a solution and started receiving his deserved pension within a maximum of six months.

- This cannot continue. I have been a miner for 27 years and I am sick. Let them resolve our situation - said Bahrudin Šabić.

The majority of the workforce, as Duraković adds, will work for another six to eight months, after which some people will have to be taken care of. Funds must be secured for work in the next two years, during which the complete closure of RMU Zenica is planned.

- It is not a solution to stop work every month to get paid - said Duraković, and emphasizes that they are doing difficult and responsible work in extracting equipment, including the "wide face" from the "Raspotočje" mine, which will be installed in the Kreka Mine in Tuzla.