Thousands Protest Against New Bosnian Labour Law

The protesters gathered in front of the Federation entity parliament in Sarajevo on Thursday, calling on lawmakers not to adopt the new legislation.

"We will not leave until the law is withdrawn. There will be no reduction of [workers'] rights. Those inside [parliament] who decide should consider who elected them," said Salih Kruscica, vice-president of the Association of Trade Unions in the Federation.

The new labour law is part of the reform agenda that the international community has set for Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities and adopting it is one of the conditions of getting a new loan from the International Monetary Fund. 

But unions say it reduces workers' rights in terms of contracts and collective agreements and gives companies greater control over their employees.

Protesters came from various parts of the Bosniak-Croat-dominated Federation including the north-west Bihac region and Tuzla in the north-east, but they were also joined by representatives of trade unions from Republika Srpska, the Serb-dominated entity. Several opposition politicians joined the rally too.

Protesters tried to enter the parliament building when they heard that MPs had put the law on the agenda but police stopped them.

The law has received praise from an association representing business leaders, which said it would lead to the creation of more jobs. 

But it has divided political parties with the ruling Party of Democratic Action, SDA, and its coalition partner the Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, standing for the adoption of the new law and several opposition parties backing the trade unions against it.

The Federation entity premier, Fadil Novalic, told news portal Vijesti.ba on Thursday that the law should not be a political...