Work conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

Full time working hours are limited to 40 hours per week, with the working week lasting five days (Monday-Friday).

In case of a weather emergency, sudden increase in the volume of work or other similar cases of emergency need, an employee, at the request of the employer, is obliged to work longer hours than his/her full work hours. This overtime work is limited to 8 hours per week.

Retirement Age

65 years (and at least 20 years of contributiing period).

Labour Laws

Consult the Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labour regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

In 2020, Bosnian government raised the minimum wage to BAM 520 per month (Cleiss).

Average Wage

In 2020, the average gross monthly salary was BAM 1,472 according to the Federal Statistical Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: For the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the employer contributes 10.5% of the gross wage of the employee to the social security. In the Republic of Srpska, no contribution is paid.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: The employee contributes 31% to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina or 32.8% to the Republic of Srpska. Employees in the Brcko District can either choose the fund of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina or fund of the Republic of Srpska.

Social Partners

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

The law provides for the right to organise and conduct union activities without interference in both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska. However, authorities have not imposed sanctions (only fines) against employers who obstruct union organising and activity. The major problem unions face is that the fines levied against the employers who disregard the right to organise are not significant enough to discourage employers from continuing said practises. The law in both entities also allows for the right to strike, but not until the union and employer have agreed upon what essential employees would stay at work. Rather, collective bargaining in both entities involves work agreements between the Government and workers in the public sector.

Labour Unions

Autonomous Trade Union of Agriculture, Food, Tobacco, Water industries, Trade, Catering and Tourism Workers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PPDIVUT)
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SSS BiH)
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Republic of Srpska (SSS RS)

Unionisation Rate

The majority of trade unions in Bosnia and Herzegovina are quite small and have limited power. This can be attributed to such factors as the country's division into three parts, ethnic and religious contrasts and a rather large informal sector. The unionisation rate is much higher in the public sector and state-owned companies than in the private sector.

Labour Regulation Bodies

Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Policy - in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (in local language only)
Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs (in local language only)