Some 300 miners are expected to arrive in Sarajevo on Wednesday for a protest, after the representatives of the Coal Mine Workers' Union failed to reach an agreement with authorities of Bosnia's Federation entity (FBiH) on the payment of wages for January and February 2024.

“We are very far from an agreement and what is certain now is that the decision of our board of directors to announce and hold a protest in front of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo will be implemented tomorrow in full capacity,” said Sinan Husic, a representative of the union.

In addition to the payment of salaries for January and February, the miners have another request which concerns the status of the brown coal mine in Zenica, a town near Sarajevo.

“We are ready to accept decisions on a complete reorganisation, but also a decision on the permanent cessation of mining operations in this mine. In such a situation, care for workers should be carried out in accordance with the first stage of the reorganisation of the Zenica Brown Coal Mine,” said Husic.

Addressing the public after the meeting, FBiH Minister for Energy, Mining and Energy Vedran Lakic reminded of the agreement with the miners and Elektroprivreda company, a state-owned company which is majority owner of the mines, from September last year.

“An excessive number of employees is not optimal for the level of production. It was agreed then that a part of the employees would be taken care of, and that production would be increased. Since then, Elektroprivreda has spent more than 40 million marks (cca 20 million euro) and 180 workers have been taken care of, the number of employed has decreased, but the level of production has remained at approximately 30 percent,” according to the minister.

However, he added that he supports and understands the trade union struggle, and that he is sure that a final solution will be reached.

Acting general manager of Elektroprivreda company Sanel Buljubasic shared a similar stance.

“The first problem we detected was the reduced amount of production in the mines. We did our best, so far we have given 75 million loans to the mines. Unfortunately, Elektroprivreda is not able to find a solution for these two salaries,” he noted.

The protests is scheduled to begin on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.. According to Husic, some 300 miners are expected in the gathering. If a solution is not reached tomorrow, a more mass protest will follow, as announced. The miners will gathering on front of the Railway Station and then take a peaceful walk towards the FBiH Government building.