The lack of manpower due to going abroad is becoming a chronic problem for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Employers blame the authorities for not creating better conditions. Citizens blame employers because they believe that wages are insufficient. Is there a solution?
Finding a qualified worker has become a real nightmare for employers, and an additional problem is created by the fact that there are fewer and fewer people interested in the job. In October, there were about 65,000 unemployed persons on the records of the Employment Service of Tuzla Canton.
“We are in demand for truck drivers – both in domestic and international traffic, construction workers, masons, carpenters, tinsmiths, welders, locksmiths and those who are metal professionals and can work in construction,” says Amela Makul, spokesperson for the TK Employment Service.
Because of everything, employers are in a situation where they employ workers who are not qualified for the required job, which is often the case in the metal industry. In the time of mass departures, those who want to change their work experience have the opportunity for retraining.
“If they really want to requalify, re-educate – we gave them opportunities. In addition to the qualification itself, which is the key problem in society today, it is also a problem of will and will,” claims Nedim Mujkić, director of the company for production, services, trade and representation.
Restaurateurs also have problems finding workers. Although some are willing to pay a waiter as much as 2,000 marks, even that amount is not enough for someone to come to work. They see the solution in employing students, but they emphasize that there is no will for that among the authorities.
“Limit yourself to 20-25 hours a week – that is, you can work two days because you have obligations to the faculty and with three, four or five students you have legally solved the problem. In this way, a student is illegally employed and we are fined when we have a student. And the problem is solvable, I think in one of their sessions they should solve it and allow the student to work”, says Emir Ramić, the owner of the restaurant.
Employment of foreigners is also present in the Tuzla Canton.
“By the end of November, we issued 87 work permits, 22 of which were repeated, and the other 65 were for the first time. And mostly these are sports, service activities”, adds Makul.
The age structure of the Tuzla Canton has a negative trend. The number of people over the age of 65 is increasing, and families with children are leaving or waiting for visas for European or overseas countries.
