The Health Insurance Institute of the Zenica-Doboj Canton has once again made it possible to verify the health certificates of miners from three mines in the area of that canton, which operate as part of the JP Elektroprivreda Bosnia and Herzegovina Concern – the institution announced.
This removed the reasons for the protest of the trade union organization RMU “Kakanj”, which, in accordance with the Decision of the Management Board of the Independent Union of Mine Workers of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was supposed to be held on Monday, September 21, starting at 10 a.m. in front of the ZZO ZDK building, which, since September 16, had once again stopped certifying the health cards of the miners of Breza, Kakanj and Zenica and their families.
- We don’t want to be part of political fights… In recent days, the issue of miners’ health insurance is increasingly being tried to turn into a political issue.
ZZO ZDK does not want miners to be drawn into political fights, nor for the consequences of unresolved relations and unpaid obligations to be transferred to their backs.
We tried to talk about this problem and look for a solution long before the issue of miners’ health insurance became the subject of public and political discussions – they point out in their announcement.
They note that, on the initiative of ZZO ZDK, talks were opened with representatives of the Government of the Federation of BiH, Elektroprivreda BiH and the mine, seeking a concrete solution.
-Unfortunately, those talks did not result in a concrete step towards solving the contribution for the mine’s health insurance. That’s why we decided to, out of respect for the miners and their families, once again enable the verification of the miners’ health cards.
We do not want the health care of people who spent their working life in mines to be a means of political pressure – said ZZO ZDK.
The cause of the problem, they add, must be clearly named, and the outstanding liabilities of mines from the area of that canton according to ZZO ZDK amount to more than 175 million KM.
- Our goal is not to put additional burden on the mines, nor to worsen the position of the miners. We want the problem to be solved in such a way as to protect the miners, ensure the sustainability of the mine and respect the legal obligations towards the health system.
That is why we are asking the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take a concrete step: to open a procedure for the systematic resolution of the mine’s debts to the health institutes, determine the method and sources of financing, and come up with a clear plan with deadlines.
We are not asking for all 175 million KM to be disposed of immediately. We ask that the first concrete step is finally taken and that the problem that has been growing for years begins to be solved – said the ZZO ZDK.
In particular, they expect that the decisions by which, during the retirement of miners, their obligations towards health insurance are not resolved at the same time, will be reconsidered. If a way is found for miners to extend their seniority and enable retirement, then a way must also be found to solve their status in mandatory health insurance – underline from ZZO ZDK.
