JP Komunalno Mostar fires 18 workers after Uborak landfill fire

JP Komunalno Mostar terminated the employment contracts of 18 workers from its Low‑Construction Unit 2 on 17 July. One of the dismissed employees, Jasmin Pendić, became known after he helped extinguish a large fire at the Uborak landfill less than a month earlier, driving a bulldozer close to the flames while firefighters sprayed water to prevent the machine from igniting.

The company cited refusal to execute a work order as the reason for the dismissals. The Independent Workers' Union of Municipal Services in the Federation of Bosnia‑Herzegovina described the decision as unjustified, illegal and rushed, noting that the affected employees had warned about organizational shortcomings and had been involved in protecting the company's assets during the fire. The union announced it will provide legal and syndical support, consider all legal avenues, and warned of possible hunger‑strike actions. The fire itself had prompted evacuations of nearby residents and a multi‑day firefighting operation. The dispute has raised concerns about labor rights and safety practices in the public sector of Mostar.