By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Sarajevo Times
  • HOME
  • POLITICS
    • BH & EU
  • BUSINESS
  • BH TOURISM
  • INTERVIEWS
    • BH & EU
    • BUSINESS
    • ARTS
  • SPORT
  • ARTS
    • CULTURE
    • ENTERTAINMENT
  • W&N
Search
  • ABOUT US
  • IMPRESSUM
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Remembering the Golden Age of one Class: What it was like to be a Worker in Yugoslavia, and what it is like today
Share
Aa
Sarajevo Times
Aa
  • HOME
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • BH TOURISM
  • INTERVIEWS
  • SPORT
  • ARTS
  • W&N
Search
  • HOME
  • POLITICS
    • BH & EU
  • BUSINESS
  • BH TOURISM
  • INTERVIEWS
    • BH & EU
    • BUSINESS
    • ARTS
  • SPORT
  • ARTS
    • CULTURE
    • ENTERTAINMENT
  • W&N
Follow US
  • ABOUT US
  • IMPRESSUM
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT
© 2012 Sarajevo Times. All rights reserved.
Sarajevo Times > Blog > BUSINESS > Remembering the Golden Age of one Class: What it was like to be a Worker in Yugoslavia, and what it is like today
BUSINESS

Remembering the Golden Age of one Class: What it was like to be a Worker in Yugoslavia, and what it is like today

May 3, 2021
Share
SHARE
Illustration

International Labor Day is a day when most citizens forget about their problems, but it is also an opportunity for drawing a parallel about what it was like to be a worker in the time of Yugoslavia, and what it is like today.

The general lack of money, the anxiety about whether you will have a salary on time next month or possibly receive an extension of a fixed-term employment contract, is the established matrix according to which the majority of the working class in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) lives. This is the opposite image from the one that was present during the former Yugoslavia when the worker deserved much more respect.

The worker used to be extremely appreciated

Sakib Kopic, the citizen of Tuzla, was employed by the company Polihem in the former Yugoslavia, and he considers that time golden for the working class. While drawing a comparison between “that” and “this” system, he points out that the worker was highly appreciated before, he could live on his salary, secure a vacation or afford to celebrate a holiday in another country, while today in most cases, it is only possible to be done by politicians, for who he says live best in BiH.

“In the system of Yugoslavia, the worker was protected in the right way and I don’t think he will have such a position in any other system. We had a joint labor court, so the worker could not lose any dispute. Nowadays we have a situation where the boss can fire you if you tell him something that he doesn’t like or you are not able to extend the working hours that day. Then there is a court process in which most workers lose because judges are bribed, and the judicial system is under political influence,” Kopic noted.

Today, Kopic is the president of the Solidarity Union of Tuzla Canton (TC), and in that role, he states that now is not the time to celebrate, but to protest, considering that workers have almost no rights. As he stresses, it’s all up to the policy that shaped the laws on labor and pension and disability insurance in its own way.

“As far as they are concerned, you will not have a pension of 380 BAM for the entire working life with the minimum wage to which you are registered. That does not suit the worker, but it certainly works for politicians who still live best in BiH, with incomes of five or six thousand BAM. Unfortunately, politics is the most profitable occupation in this country, and if you have that profession, you have to deceive the people and it is not an issue for them, which we see in practice, ” Kopic added.

This trade unionist is most disappointed by the fact that the workers are not fighting for their rights, emphasizing that he understands them to a certain extent because of the politicians that instilled fear.

“In today’s BiH, you have the police and the judiciary that took the side of politics. You saw what happened to demobilized fighters during the demonstrations in Sarajevo in 2018, who were also former workers. The police went to them with dogs, while they were just looking for their rights. It’s scary, ” told Kopic.

The amazing time of Yugoslavia is also remembered by the Tuzla miners, who have no reason to celebrate May Day. Due to violated workers’ rights and uncertainty about the survival of jobs, they are spending Saturday protesting in Sarajevo.

“The essential difference is that in the time of Yugoslavia, a miner was valued by the state, citizens, and everyone else, given that we know that this is by far the most difficult job. Miner’s greeting: ‘good luck’ shows how difficult this job is and no matter what protection measures are implemented, and how humanized are the working conditions, you are endangered because in the pit facilities you fight with nature, you touch it and challenge it “, as Zuhdija Tokic, president of the Trade Union of the Kreka Coal Mine, said.

Nowadays, according to Tokic, miners are unfortunately left to themselves.

“They are only talked about on Miners’ Day or when, God forbid, an accident happens. During a pandemic, we cannot apply not even some of the measures envisaged by the crisis staff, which means that our health at work is endangered. In all these conditions we do the work and make results, and in return, we get that our destiny and the lives of our families are questionable because of our existence. We did not fight for a state like this that has an ignorant attitude towards us. That saddens us,” Tokic pointed out, Klix.ba writes.

E.Dz.

You Might Also Like

Will MPs vote on the Law on Excise Tax and reduce the Fuel Prices in BiH?

The most Goods were exported from Bosnia to Croatia

“World in 2023” Conference is taking place in Sarajevo

The Adoption of this Year’s FBiH Budget enables the largest Investments

When will the Construction of Sarajevo-Tuzla Highway begin?

TAGGED: #BiH, #employment, #respect, #Yugoslavia
Y.Z May 3, 2021
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Share
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Sleepy0
Angry0
Dead0
Wink0
Previous Article Have You ever visited Radovan Lake in Central Bosnia?
Next Article Tadic: Significant Activities have been initiated in the Fight against Corruption in BiH
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Stay Connected

10.2k Followers Like
10.1k Followers Follow
414 Followers Follow

Latest News

Loan Agreement between BiH and the EBRD signed in Sarajevo
February 1, 2023
Members of Chetnik Movement are buying-out Prison Sentence
February 1, 2023
Association of Intellectuals: If Serbia decides to oppose the West, war will break out again in the Western Balkans
February 1, 2023
Commissioner Selimovic addressed the Public after his Resignation
February 1, 2023
EU announces Public Call worth Five Million BAM in BiH
February 1, 2023
Schmidt and State Property: Will the High Representative comply with the Wishes of the RS?
February 1, 2023
Chairperson of BiH Council of Ministers met with EBRD Delegation
February 1, 2023
Will MPs vote on the Law on Excise Tax and reduce the Fuel Prices in BiH?
February 1, 2023
Members of BiH Presidency met with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US Senate
February 1, 2023
“For New Generations” is no longer a Partner for Government Formation
January 31, 2023

You Might also Like

BUSINESS

Will MPs vote on the Law on Excise Tax and reduce the Fuel Prices in BiH?

February 1, 2023
BUSINESS

The most Goods were exported from Bosnia to Croatia

January 30, 2023
BUSINESS

“World in 2023” Conference is taking place in Sarajevo

January 30, 2023
BUSINESS

The Adoption of this Year’s FBiH Budget enables the largest Investments

January 30, 2023
Sarajevo Times
Follow US

© 2012 Sarajevo Times. All Rights Reserved.

  • ABOUT US
  • IMPRESSUM
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT

Removed from reading list

Undo
Go to mobile version
AdBlock Detected
Our site is an advertising supported site. Please whitelist to support our site.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?