HoP of BiH PA adopts harmonized amendments to the Law on Salaries and Allowances in BiH Institutions

The House of Representatives and the House of Peoples had previously adopted the law in different versions, after which a joint committee harmonized the text.

According to the proposers, the reason for adopting the law is to address the current unfavorable position of employees in the BiH institutions – civil servants, employees, police and other officials, as well as professional military personnel – who have been adversely affected by the failure to adopt the budget within constitutional and legal deadlines.

The law stipulates that “the salary calculation base shall apply from January 1 of the current year for that year, and the competent institutions shall ensure retroactive payment of salary differences within a period not exceeding 30 days from the date of budget adoption, if the budget for the following fiscal year is not adopted by December 31 of the current year.”

An amendment adopted by the House of Peoples and subsequently harmonized by the joint committee also became an integral part of the law. The amendment prevents the salaries of elected and appointed officials from increasing in parallel with salary increases for employees.

Following the vote, House of Peoples Chair Kemal Ademovic expressed satisfaction that the law had been adopted and would enter into force after its publication in the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“This strengthens the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and improves the position of their employees,” Ademovic said.

The session of the House of Peoples was attended by 13 delegates – five from the Bosniak Caucus, four from the Croat Caucus, and four from the Serb Caucus.