Zenica coal miners stage protest outside Sarajevo govt building over unpaid wages

The demonstration follows a succession of earlier strikes and months of tense negotiations concerning the future of the colliery, which is currently undergoing closure proceedings. Worker representatives have since gained entry to the government building for formal talks with relevant departmental officials to press their demands.
Addressing the situation yesterday, the FBiH Minister of Energy, Mining, and Industry, Vedran Lakic, confirmed that funds allocated for miners' holiday allowances had been transferred directly into the company's bank accounts. He stressed that while the disbursement does not constitute a permanent resolution, it demonstrates that the ministry and the wider government are actively tackling issues that have built up over decades.
"I fully understand the miners' dissatisfaction, as they have been living in uncertainty for months. We did not create the problems at RMU Zenica; they were created over many years, but we have taken responsibility for resolving them permanently. The payment of vacation allowances is a concrete step to support the miners and their families while we work in parallel to complete a much larger task," Mr Lakic said.