Social media in Bosnia and Herzegovina are seeing a wave of calls for a boycott of shops, petrol stations, cafés, and restaurants on 31 January, following a successful civic action in Croatia. The boycott is intended as a protest against high prices and a low standard of living.

The organisers of the initiative are urging citizens not to make any purchases next Friday, to stock up on essential supplies in advance, cook at home, and avoid spending money in hospitality establishments.

“This is a way to express our dissatisfaction with the rising costs of food and energy while wages remain low. A one-day boycott can send a powerful message,” reads one of the widely shared messages on social media.

Online forum users point out that food prices in Bosna are higher than in some developed countries like Germany, while housing costs remain unbearable.

According to Adis Keco, a representative of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, such actions highlight serious socio-economic issues in the country. He warns that business profits are rising, yet wages have not kept pace and remain insufficient to cover basic living expenses.

The boycott organisers emphasise that the aim of the action is to pressure the authorities and employers into taking concrete measures to curb inflation, raise the minimum wage, and improve the overall standard of living for citizens.

The authorities in BiH have, on several occasions, imposed price freezes on essential goods.