The first non-working Sunday for workers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was on November 17, 2024. Recently, more and more municipalities and cities have been requesting an exemption from the non-working Sunday, given that the Law on Internal Trade, which also prescribes this decision, is not implemented in the territory of the Brčko District and the Republika Srpska. The economic consequences are already noticeable, and the main factor is precisely the exclusive implementation of this law only in the territory of the Federation.
Introducing a non-working Sunday without a harmonized application throughout the country could divide the market, but also show that the laws are not equal for all workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Citizens’ opinions are divided, but most agree that such laws should apply to all workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I lived and grew up in a period when Sunday was a non-working day for everyone except for some on-call jobs, and the same rule was in place throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
“Sunday was a non-working day before, people need to rest, but now these businessmen, they would work 25 hours.”
“I support the working week. I think there are few shops in Tuzla that are open, and the market needs are really great.”
Data from the Federal Statistical Office in the field of trade show that there has been a significant drop in turnover in recent months. The exceptions that allow bakeries, gas stations and drugstores to work indicate a problem with the protection of workers’ rights, but also that the implementation of this law is not complete.
“I proposed an amendment to the Labor Law where Sunday would be recognized as overtime work and this would allow workers to receive additional income. On the other hand, someone who wants to work would work,” says economic expert and analyst Admir Čavalić.
Profession versus human. Trade unions do not dispute the current outflow of income, but they state that when we talk about a non-working week, we are talking about the only day that workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina can spend with their families and rest. They are of the opinion that by amending the Labor Law and paid overtime work, they would solve the issue of economic consequences of this law, as well as social ones.
“We have to look at the bigger picture. Due to the speed of life, we put the family in second or even third place, and I think that in addition to economic benefits, we also have to look at some of our values that have been lost,” says the president of the Brčko District Trade Union, Igor Babić.
While traders are counting losses and economists are warning of a drop in income and outflow of consumption, workers in Bosnia and Herzegovina hope that they will be able to devote at least one day to themselves and their families. Whether economic interests or social responsibility will prevail depends on political will. But one thing is certain, a non-working Sunday should not be a luxury but a civilized norm.
