Funds for the payment of back pay to employees of the Zenica Coal Mine have been secured, stated the Federal Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry.
“In cooperation with the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and other institutions, the Ministry secured World Bank project funds amounting to around 160 million BAM. Upon the expected activation of the operational fund in the following days, the payment of back pay of around three million BAM to the miners of the Coal Mine Zenica will follow,” the statement said.
Since the launch of the closure process of the Zenica Coal Mine (RMU Zenica), the Ministry emphasized, a total of 18.47 million BAM has been secured.
“Around 15 million BAM is directed towards payments, meal allowances, and other worker rights, 3.1 million towards linking service years, and approximately 397 thousand for raw materials. In the past 26 months, in cooperation with Elektroprivreda BiH and the Kreka Coal Mine, more than 11 million BAM has been secured exclusively for the salaries of Zenica miners,” the statement adds.
According to the information of the Union, due to deteriorating health, nine miners had to leave the pit premises of the Raspotočje facility, while nine of them are still in the pit.
“Due to immediate health risks, we call on workers to leave the pit without delays, and the Union Committee to give up on the announced additional decent,” they added.
According to Article 50 of the Law on Mining of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, they remind that a strike in facilities threatened by methane is not allowed for security reasons.
“Remaining in a methane pit cannot be an acceptable form of trade union pressure, as it directly endangers human lives. Worker rights are not in dispute, and we will continue to protect them, but we expect a contribution to calming the situation and ensuring safe exit of the workers,” they emphasized.
They also reminded that the Federal Ministry is not the employer of the workers of the Zenica Coal Mine, nor does it manage the pit facilities.
“Our task is systematic problem solving, and we are meeting it. The process of a fair transition is complex, but not a single worker will be left without support. Through welfare care, retraining, or linking years of service, the Government will ensure a socially just and responsible transition,” they said.
