Adnan Delić calls for labor market reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Adnan Delić, the Federal Minister of Labor and Social Policy, has called for urgent labor market reforms in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to address the paradox of over 200,000 unemployed individuals existing alongside a growing labor shortage in specific sectors.

Delić emphasized that while the third “Gledaj sebi posla” job fair has secured participation from over 120 companies, such events alone cannot resolve systemic issues. He identified the outdated Law on Employment Mediation and Social Security for the Unemployed as a primary obstacle, stating the current legislation is not adapted to the needs of either employers or job seekers.

The proposed reform aims to distinguish active job seekers from those merely on official registries. This distinction would allow institutions to create more precise employment programs and make the domestic workforce more accessible to employers. Although the new law has passed the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it has twice failed to receive necessary support in both houses of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.