Bosnian unions demand emergency law to save Nova Željezara Zenica

The government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has submitted a proposal for a law on extraordinary administration of the steelmaker Nova Željezara Zenica, but parliamentary sessions to consider the bill have not yet been scheduled. Unions representing the plant’s workers say the delay endangers tens of thousands of jobs and have called for the House of Representatives and House of Peoples to convene early next week.

A month earlier, the shutdown of the Aglomeracija, Visoke peći and Čeličana units halted integral production at the Zenica steel plant. Union leaders warn the situation is worsening, with Rašid Fetić stating, “Day by day we are in a bigger problem. We lose time, we have not worked for a month.” The unions argue the extraordinary administrator would have powers to restart production and avoid bankruptcy, which would terminate all workers’ contracts under the insolvency law.

They also criticize the current owners, alleging they block solutions while holding assets worth roughly 2 billion marks. The unions claim the proposed law is the only realistic chance to preserve the plant and protect the livelihoods of thousands of families and the broader industrial sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina.