The survival of the public service of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina is still uncertain. Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina has neither temporary nor permanent financing. The workers did not receive a hot meal and salary for December. Although the Federal Television paid part of the fee collected in December, which by law belongs to the Radio-television of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the account of BHRT, the financial situation is still bad. The management and the workers’ union are in constant session to find a solution to save the Public Service, but also the workers employed at BHRT.
The situation at BHRT is alarming. Meetings are held every day to find a way and solve at least the problem of paying the December salary. The union adopted several conclusions, which are a priority at the moment. Although their hands are tied and there is little they can do on their own, the union says they will not give up the fight for workers’ rights.
“The board of directors of the independent trade union of workers employed in BHRT calls for the signing of the contract on the collection of the RTV tax as soon as possible, which will enable a financially stable Public Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the fulfillment of the workers’ demands, namely an increase in wages and hot meals, payment of contributions, improvement working conditions and the adoption of a fairer systematization”, said Edis Foco, vice president of the Independent Trade Union of Workers in BHRT.
“The public must know, on the 16th of January, these employees of the Public Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is one of the key priorities on the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina, did not receive a hot meal or a salary.”, said Merima Kurtovic Pasalic, president of the Independent Trade Union of Workers in BHRT.
Due to non-compliance with the law on public RTV service and the unfair distribution of the RTV tax, Radiotelevision of Bosnia and Herzegovina found itself in a situation where it cannot pay its obligations. Workers’ salaries have not been adjusted for the last 15 years, more than 60 percent of workers have incomes of less than 800 marks, and for years past, pension insurance contributions have not been paid either.
The situation was further aggravated by the management of FTV, which illegally kept tax funds in their accounts, and threatened the payment of December salaries to BHRT workers. The correspondence clearly indicates that the money from the RTV tax was paid by Elektroprivreda Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it was not transferred to BHRT’s account for days.
“We refuse to be the subject of manipulation by the management of FTV and call on everyone to act reasonably in order to survive the Public RTV Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, Pasalic added.
Politicians continue to point to the importance of the survival of the public service of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, to each his own. There are few who sat down together at the table and put in front of them the question of the survival of BHRT, which has been mentioned for decades.
“BHRT is a symbol of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the symbols. Therefore, in a political and every other sense, what is happening at this moment is devastating. However, it did not start yesterday, nor did the problem arise, but it is being worked on, as they would say, on a systematic destruction of Bosnian television for many years and this is now only the culmination”, Sasa Magazinovic explained.
“The employer, and in this case it is the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the competent ministry, state and entity, really need to solve this problem, so that this house, our public services, get out of this problem, out of this darkness”, Refik Lendo said.
“The question of the RTV tax arises and a compromise should be found there, to preserve public services because they are a feature of every country”.
Although BHRT receives messages of support every day, and politicians point out the importance of the survival of the public service of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for decades no government has attempted to systematically, through institutions, permanently solve the system of collecting the RTV tax and legally regulate this area. Or at least by sanctioning those who do not respect the current legal solutions, show how important it is for a country that aspires to be a member of the European Union to have a stable and independent public service.
