Craftsmen in the Federation of BiH have been facing a problem that threatens their survival for years – they do not have the right to compensation during sick leave, so many have to temporarily or permanently close their trades in case of illness.
In order to find a systemic solution, on the initiative of the Minister of Economy of Tuzla Canton, Edin Duraković, a meeting was held with the Chairman of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, Dragan Mioković, and representatives of the Trade Chamber of TK.
“Owners of a craft do not have the right to sick leave for up to 42 days, and not even longer than that. We have the right, but no one finances us for that right. You are the owner of a craft, you work, you get sick and you have to take sick leave. You cannot pay contributions because you have no income, and you have to pay them. No one will reimburse you. This leads to the closure of the craft,” warned the vice-president of the Assembly of the Chamber of Crafts TK Adisa Mešanović.
The representatives of craftsmen emphasized that the existing legal framework puts them in an unequal position compared to other workers and requested changes to the Law on Health Insurance and the Labor Law of FBiH. Their goal is that tradesmen also get the right to compensation during temporary inability to work – either due to illness or injury.
Minister Duraković pointed out that it is a “burning issue” that is hindering the development of the economy of the Tuzla Canton.
“The small economy carries a large part of the development of TK on its shoulders. It is our obligation to open up this topic and to initiate it at the federal level,” said Duraković.
We remind you that the craftsmen recently spoke about the same problem with Mioković during the Gradačac Business Fair, when they warned that the absence of any protection in case of illness threatens the survival of thousands of small businesses.
Now they expect that the launched initiative will translate into concrete proposals for legal changes and that the institutions will finally recognize the importance of craftsmen as the foundation of the domestic economy, he writes. Lukavicki.ba
