Bosnia and Herzegovina, EPSU Collective Bargaining News

Thousands of workers joined a demonstration in Sarajevo in opposition to a new labour code adopted by the parliament of the Bosnian Federation. The protestors were also joined by trade unionists from Repubika Srpska where the labour code will be debated in parliament later this year. Trade unions are concerned about the weakening of employment rights enshrined in the legislation which is being adopted by the government in response to pressures to agree labour reforms to meet lending conditions required by the International Monetary Fund. [Read more at > Balkan Insight news website (EN)->http:/

Low pensions and an anti-trade union labour law are creating widespread opposition against the government of the Bosnian federation. Following last month's protest against the new labour code, unions wrote to the government calling on it to amend the legislation or face further demonstrations. Similar protests are in prospect now in the Srpska Republic where the government is planning to introduce labour legislation along the same lines as that of the Federation. [Read more at > Balkan Insight news website (EN)->http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bosnia-s-federation-government-faces

On 2 November, around 4,000 health workers in the southern canton of Herzegovina-Neretva began strike action in support of a demand for a 30% salary increase over the next two years. During the strike action only urgent cases are being admitted to the facilities affected. The workers’ union blames the government for the poor state of the health sector and low salaries and is committed to striking until a comprehensive collective agreement is signed. The cantonal government appointed a negotiation team to address the workers' demands. Despite a tentative agreement to a 30% salary increase

The SUFBIH civil servants’ union has signed a three-year agreement with the federal government that runs to the end of 2026. The union was pleased with the outcome after three months of negotiations and said the agreement showed how social dialogue could deliver. The agreement stipulates that the lowest salary in administrative bodies is 70% of the average salary in the Federation of Bosnia & Hercegovina and severance pay for retirement is the equivalent of five average salaries for civil servants. There are improvements to various allowances and supplements, including for on-call periods, and