Our goal is clear: to build a federation in which it pays to work, invest and stay. All steps are part of one larger road – times according to the economically stronger, socially more sensitive and fairer Federation of BiH. And on that road, we will persist – the Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nermin Nikšić said.
The increase in the minimum salary at 1,000 km was a move that initially caused a lot of discussions – which, according to the premiere, somewhat as expected for such an important reform measure.
– The data we follow on a daily basis show that we had a good assessment and that we brought the right decision. Concrete effects can be seen: the number of employees in the Federation grows, the collection of contributions recorded an increase, and the number of active business entities increases. Only in the first five months of this year, more than 2.56 billion KM of contributions was charged, which is an increase of more than 336 million KM compared to the same period last year – said Nikšić in the Tuzlanski.ba interview.
Increasing the minimum salary
After increasing the minimum wage, a law that reduces contributions to the employers’ burglary was adopted.
– For the first time after more than a decade, the collective rate in the FBiH is reduced by 13.25 percent, which represents directing labor costs and clear signal to employers that the Federation is behind those respecting the law and invest in jobs. This is not the end, but a continuation of a wider fiscal reform. The next steps include a real-time fiscalization and an additional reduction in contributions, all with the aim of creating a sustainable, predictable and honest system that uses both workers and economies – says Nikšić.
Also, the allegations are also demanded by systemic solutions for increasing pensions and improving the status of this category of society that currently lives on the margins barely connecting the ‘end with end’. Precisely in Tuzla retirees often maintain protests with the aim of turning attention to the difficult position in which it is required by the authorities of the measure that will bring changes.
– With one-time measures we plan to implement, create and systemic solutions that first imply increase in revenue that will make a significant increase in pensions realistic. We will not generate revenue in any additional taxation, but by introducing the legal flows of the gray flows that have been tolerated for too long, all at the expense of the state and our citizens. This is precisely such reforms create a basis for safer and more stable pension payments in the future. In cooperation with pensioner associations, we will try to reach the necessary legal changes to achieve the necessary value in real growth in pensions that would monitor the growth of salaries and lifestock. We approach reforms carefully, stage and without improvisation. We will not make measures that endanger the stability of the system, but we will continue to be a government that has the courage to make decisions that change things better. Our goal is to benefit both employers, and employers, and employers, and the benefits of the changes we spend, because only then can we say that all parties are satisfied – the Federal Prime Minister.
Established and channel “Protection of workers”
The “Protection of Workers” is also established in Nikšić’s mandate, and this measure, it said, proved to be a right decision.
– All workers should know that they are not alone and have institutional support in achieving its rights. From mid-February to date, more than 1,000 applications related to the whole range of irregularities have been received, from non-payment of the minimum salary, paying part of the salary in envelopes, non-treatment of warm meals and transportation for transportation, etc. Applications are forwarded to the competent institutions for further processing, or the Federal Board of the Federation of BiH, which have the task of checking and taking appropriate measures to protect the rights of workers and prevent further violations of work regulations – states.
Speaking about the cooperation between the Government of the Federation of BiH and the Government of the Tuzla Canton, Nikšić says that cooperation is correct and functional, but that as in any cooperation, there is room to be even better, more financier and strategically in more advanced.
– Tuzla Canton is one of the most important industrial and demographic centers in the Federation, and as such has huge development potential, from energy and mining, through education and health sector, to IT industry and sustainable tourism. The task of the Federal Government is to support the cantons, including TK, in the implementation of projects that contribute to economic growth, employment and better quality of citizens. This means that we must work in partnership, with mutual respect and joint planning. It is especially important to harmonize development priorities in the best possible way, so that each invested public money brand would have a maximum effect. That is why in the coming period we will further strengthen the exchange of information on strategic projects and work together to attract investments, both domestic and foreign. Ultimately, we all work for the same citizens and our common success is measured how satisfied these citizens are satisfied with the services we provide them, the possibilities that we also open them with the ambience in which they live and work – said Nikšić.
Another burning problems in Tuzla Canton is a travel blockade. Tuzla Canton as one of the centers of economy and exports still does not have a mile of the highway, and for years, citizens seem to only listen to promises, while turning out due to travel blockades.
– We are aware that Tuzla Canton has suffered the consequences of neglect years when it comes to traffic connection. That is why we are determined to change that trend to concrete investment and projects. The focus of this investment cycle is one of the most important capital projects in the state – construction of the Tuzla-Brčko-Orašje highway, a total length of 62 kilometers. This highway as a new traffic route is an important direction that will connect the northeastern part of the Federation with the main European corridors and thus open the space for tourism, industry, cross-border cooperation and employment. Only for this project so far, more than 35 million KM have already provided BiH’s Government already provided funds for the expropriation of real estate on the stakeholder – Tuzla, in the length of eight kilometers – says Nikšić.
He adds that these investments represent a clear turn in relation to the region that has long been on the margins of infrastructure development.
– The Tuzla-Brčko-Orašje motorway will not remain a plan on paper, it is a project we finally launched and which is realized step by step. Citizens have been waiting for concrete shifts too long, and now we finally enter the actual works phase with the aim of finishing this travel right direction. In addition, for a Shički Ship section – Đurđevik in 2025. It is planned by 10 million KM for land expropriation, which creates prerequisites for starting work. In parallel, they are also invested in urban traffic infrastructure, from the end of the roundabout in Slatina to new traffic solutions in Tuzla and the surrounding municipalities – the Federal Prime Minister.
Switching to renewable energy sources
The potential closure of the mine and the transition to renewable energy sources is the obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina that must be fulfilled before joining the EU. Given the importance of the mining industry for cities such as Tuzla, Banović and Živinica, the question that is imposed is what will be with miners – whether the miners of TK are really a priority when it comes to retraining and employment programs in the context of green transition.
– The Government of the Federation of BiH is responsible and strategically faces the challenges of energy transition, taking into account the interests of mining communities such as Tuzla, Banović and Živinica, which are ruled on coal. Miners are and will remain a priority when we talk about public support programs in the context of green transition. This is not just a matter of energy policy – this is the issue of social justice and the development of the region. Special attention is paid to the measures of social protection and the retraining programs of former miners, in order to enable them to transition to other labor market sectors. Our goal is to spend this process on a humane and economically sustainable way – transition to environmentally friendly energy sources, but with full care of people who have built this sector. Just the transition implies not only the closure of the mine, but also care of workers and supporting the development of local communities that have been based on the coal industry – says Nikšić.
Cooperation with the World Bank
In cooperation with the World Bank, which has already approved more than 160 million KMs to finance the fair transition in the Federation of BiH, an opportunity for improving energy stability and independence, with the implementation of fair and economic incentive transition.
– The project includes a conversion of former mines in Banovići, Zenica and Cracks, supports the installation of plant for renewable energy and cracks in Banovići and cracks – which will open new jobs and give a new purpose for these spaces. The planned duration of the project implementation is from 2025. until 2030. years – Nikšić explained.
Another problem faced by miners is an unaccepting of work experience. Nikšić says that the Government of the Federation of BiH for several years has been systematically increasing the allocations for miners, including means of binding work experience.
– Only in the previous two years, significant funds provided that enabled the exercise of the right to hundreds of workers, and on that practice we continue. Although we know that this does not solve a comprehensive problem, it is clear that we do concrete steps to correct the long-standing injustices – he said.
Creek mine
When it comes to the mine of crack and the fact that contributions were not paid since 2009., the Prime Minister says it is important to say that it is a problem that has been ignored for years.
– Responsibility for this situation lies, above all, in previous mine administrations, but also in insufficient supervision and absence of the timely reaction of the competent institutions. These problems do not occur overnight, but we have taken on ourselves to solve them systemically. In the continuation of the mandate, the Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry will be dedicated to this issue with even more attention. The focus will be in better control of the business of mines, more responsible management, transparency and protecting workers’ rights. Miners are the foundation of the industrial development of the Federation and must have a sense of security – in terms of today’s rights, in terms of its future, the Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH in the interview for Tuzlanski.ba.
