Skopje, 29 October 2023 (MIA) - The countries of the region are increasingly facing a shortage of skilled workers, and one of the reasons for this situation is the attractive salaries offered across Europe. This movement of the skilled workers is mainly noticeable during the summer period when seasonal workers are in demand, the President of the Independent Union of Civil Servants and Employees in Civil Service, Judiciary and Public Institutions in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Samir Kurtović told MIA.

He said that higher salaries and employment contracts that provide security are the two key elements for this situation.

“Employment contracts are made, which is very important because when they sign a contract, they have an official document that they will receive salary. There is no cash, because Croatia is part of the European Union and that gives security. That is why the majority of workers take on seasonal jobs. The salaries are high and reliable, amounting to €2,000 per month,” Kurtović said.

He said that there is also a shortage of workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in the summer period, but according to the Labour Law, an employment contract must be concluded regardless of whether the worker is hired for a shorter or longer period of time.

“The employment contract must exist regardless of whether the worker is hired on a daily basis, for a few days or for a few months,” Kurtović said.

The signing of the employment contract, he added, is a very important segment because it defines all the workers’ rights from the amount of salary, allowances, the past work, contributions to the duration of the contract...

Kurtović said that the salary should keep pace with the inflation so that the workers receive a salary that will be sufficient for a normal life so that they do not work abroad.

“Prices have risen, and salaries are not increasing in a quality and legal manner. Incomes in Bosnia and Herzegovina are much higher than in Macedonia. I was recently in Ohrid and when a waiter told me that he was paid €400. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is no waiter whose salary is below €750,” Kurtović said.

Unlike the country where the average salary according to the latest statistics amounted close to €600 in August, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the average salary amounts €850 together with food and transportation allowances, which are now paid separately from the salary, amount one percent of the average salary, i.e. it ranges from six to seven euros for each day, so that for 23 working days, the worker receives around €130.

Kurtović, who took part in a workshop dedicated to the movement of the workers and seasonal work on Monday in Skopje, said that it is impermissible to pay the salary in cash.

“At the presentation, the colleague from Macedonia noted that a large part of the employers pay the salary for the seasonal work in cash. That is absolutely unacceptable in our country. The worker must be registered, the procedure must be followed and not be paid in cash,” Kurtović said.

Regarding cases in which employees of the state administration take unpaid leave from work and take on seasonal jobs, Kurtović said that such cases are very few in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Law on Civil Service defines how and in what way an employee in the civil service can go on unpaid leave, and the maximum period is three months, but very few people take this kind of leave from work because the civil service authorities are demanding a lot, he said.

In the country, unpaid leave is also for three months in one calendar year, and according to Article 27 of the General Collective Agreement, unpaid leave can be taken on several grounds - for travelling abroad for family reunification, for participation in congresses and conferences, treatment at home and abroad, to participate in cultural and sports events...

Biljana Anastasova – Kostikj

Photo: MIA