NATO might be in an awkward situation if former employees of international peacekeeping troops from BiH proved their case that they worked in the black market from the end of the war until 2006. Thousand of them launched a procedure in which they are seeking for post-pay service and contributions. These are tens of millions of EUR. The forces that have built and kept peace in the country should prove that they respected its laws as well.
This is only an exercise. In the security and peacekeeping, through a complex mission, international forces in BiH have had the number of civil servants. Most of them from BiH. Jasmin Tanovic worked for international forces almost 14 years. He remembers that he was grateful for the opportunity. The fact that the contract stipulated that they pay contributions he did not considered as controversial.
It was weird that since 2006, employer suddenly started to pay contributions.
“Since EUFOR took over the mission they started to recognize it in 2006 . What happened until then, nobody recognized,” said Tanovic.
Then he got an explanation from lawyers that, regardless of contracts, they should have respected the labor laws of BiH.
“What they signed in relation to the provisions of the law is worthless,” said Avdo Salihbegovic, the lawyer.
“It is very uncomfortable situation for our clients, legally uncomfortable. Since the NATO is the greatest military and political power in the world that is essentially determined to prosecute, and eventually pay compensation to former employees who earned them while working for them,” said Salihbegovic.
From Sarajevo base of NATO claim that the laws were respected and that employees should have paid contributions by themselves. They are, however, considering complaints.
“Since we want to continue our tradition of ‘responsible employer’, our experts are actively working on finding technical solutions for issues related to current and former employees of the missions of NATO, who have been employed before the March of 2006. In particular, the final decision on this issue will be made by the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers of Europe, based in Belgium, where we have provided all relevant information on the requirements of the former employees,” said Giselle Wilz, Commander of NATO base in Sarajevo.
(Source: Al Jazeera)
