Zenica miners to protest in front of the FBiH Government on Wednesday, having received no salary this year

(Patria) - The Independent Union of Workers in Mining of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is organizing protests in front of the FBiH Government on Wednesday, with around 300 miners expected to attend due to the situation at the Zenica Brown Coal Mine. The miners have not received any salary this year and have run out of patience.

Miners from all seven mines of the EPBiH Concern will join the Zenica miners.

The last meeting was held on March 14 between representatives of the FBiH Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry, JP Elektroprivreda BiH, and the management of RMU Zenica. However, no decision on salary payment has been made to date.

As unionist Sinan Husić stated, the main demand at tomorrow's protest will be the payment of salaries for January and February, as well as meal allowances for those two months for the Zenica miners.

The Zenica miners went on strike on March 6 because they have not received any salary this year.

Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine issued a statement on March 12 criticizing RMU Zenica for poor production.

Elektroprivreda stated that from May 25, 2021, to January 31, 2024, based on concluded contracts, they paid loans to the "Zenica" mine worth 85,375,350 BAM.

"Of that amount, only in the period from October 17 last year to the end of January this year, the value of paid loans amounted to 41.2 million BAM, which is 11.2 million BAM more than the planned 30 million BAM according to the amendments to the Decision of the Supervisory Board of JP Elektroprivreda BiH on the allocation of approved funds for granting loans to coal mines. Additional funds were provided by the Management of JP Elektroprivreda BiH through a Decision on the reallocation of funds for granting loans to the mines of the EPBiH Concern," Elektroprivreda stated.

They emphasize that the loan funds were used for payments of PIO obligations based on workers' lawsuits, PIO obligations for regular retirement, severance payments for workers who have exercised that right, and the care of surplus workers through settlement of contribution obligations and payment of incentive severance packages, as well as payments for current business obligations.

"Despite the implemented activities and the payment of loans by JP Elektroprivreda BiH in the amount exceeding 41 million BAM in the period from October 17, 2023, to January 31, 2024, RMU 'Zenica' achieved production of 34 percent of the plan from September 2023 to January this year, with revenue of 3.2 million BAM. Salary costs for that period amount to 10.1 million BAM and are 6.8 million BAM higher than the realized revenue," Elektroprivreda points out.

From that company, they say that as the governing company of the EPBiH Concern, they have fulfilled all obligations to ensure that the remaining number of employees at RMU "Zenica" can ensure production continuity, plan fulfillment, and business stability.