When a worker says that after paying bills and buying food “there is just enough money to survive,” then this is not a private family issue, but an alarm for society. A decent salary is not a luxury or a privilege; it is a basic condition for a normal life. Work should make it possible to plan for the future, take care of one’s health, educate children, and handle unexpected expenses without falling into debt. The discussion about salaries in Bosnia and Herzegovina is reduced to statistics: minimum, average, and median. But real life does not happen in spreadsheets. It happens in household budgets that collapse at the first unexpected expense, on working Saturdays that “save the month,” and in the silence of people afraid to speak out for fear of consequences.
Voices of the Workers: “To Survive, Not to Live”
To complete the story, it is important to hear from those whose incomes are often tied to the minimum wage, especially in industrial sectors, wrote federalna.ba. Due to the risk of retaliation and pressure, the statements have been anonymised.
A garment worker in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina said, “I work full time, but when I pay for bills and food, there is just enough to survive. If something unexpected happens – medications, a breakdown, or school expenses – I have to borrow money.”
A leather and footwear worker in Republika Srpska stated, “The minimum wage has become the norm. Overtime often helps the household budget, but it means you are tired all the time and have no life outside of work.”
“The worst thing is that people are afraid to speak up. When you know your contract may or may not be renewed, you stay silent and endure, even though you know it is not fair,” said a female industry worker in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The Worst Thing Is People Are Afraid to Speak Up”: Why Anonymity Is Necessary
In many workplaces, especially where unions are weak or non-standard forms of employment are common, workers tend to avoid speaking publicly about problem. Because people are afraid of losing a job, being demoted, getting worse shifts, or being “marked” at work these problems stay hidden and are rarely spoken about openly.
This is why protecting interviewees is a basic rule in responsible reporting. It means leaving out any details that could identify them and making sure there is a clear agreement on what can be published.
What ZORA says: From Minimum Wage to Decent Salary
Armin Šestić from the Association for Social, Cultural, and Creative Development ZORA emphasized that it is essential to shift the focus from “minimum” as a norm to “decent” as a goal. The Declaration on a Decent Wage calls for making a decent wage a measurable category in statistics and a framework in legislation, and for conducting social dialogue based on actual living costs rather than political assessments.
“A decent salary is not a privilege – it is a right. The minimum salary is a legal threshold, but a decent salary is a social standard we should strive for, because work should not mean poverty,” Šestić said.
In practice, this means it is not enough to “increase the minimum wage” without a clear connection to realistic living costs. A decent salary means working full time without being forced to work overtime just to meet basic needs.
What Next: Three Things That Should Become the Norm
The conversation has to move from moral appeals to concrete steps in order for decent wage to become standard rather than exception.
Tracking Living Costs and Making Them Transparent
Real living costs, such as housing, food, transport, bills, healthcare, education should be regularly monitored, and presented in clear, understandable way, so it clear what amountof income is needed for a decent life.
Strengthening Social Dialogue and Collective Bargaining
Decent wages are usually secured through collective agreements and negotiations grounded in real working conditions. Where the unions have the capacity, workers have a better chance for better security, clearer rules, and fairer allocation.
Responsibility of Institutions and Employers, Including Supply Chains
Inspections, clear rules on overtime work and contracts and consistent enforcement of the law are a minimum. At the same time, the employers and brands that profit within supply chains must take on responsibility for working conditions and wage standards.
Why Does This Concern All of Us?
The discussion about a decent salary is not just about the “lowest income.” It raises a fundamental question: should work guarantee security, health, the ability to plan, and dignity? When even the people who earn above average feel their stability is slipping away due to rising costs, it becomes clear that society needs a standard of living, not just month-to-month survival.
That is why it is important to keep talking about a decent salary – through media, unions, public policy, and local communities. The question is simple: Do we want a society where work enables a life or one where it only ensures survival?
