Judicial strike in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton disrupts court operations

A strike by judicial employees in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNŽ) has led to a near-total blockade of judicial operations, threatening citizens' rights to access courts and fair trials. The Association of Judges and Prosecutors in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has expressed support for the strike, which is being led by the Unified Union of State Judicial Employees and Workers in HNŽ to demand dignified salaries and fair compensation.

The strike has disrupted essential services, including court hearings, the drafting of decisions, and the issuance of certificates and land registry extracts.

In response, the HNŽ Government stated it shares concerns regarding judicial access but highlighted previous decisions to provide salary supplements. The government noted that 650,000 KM annually has been secured for specific supplements for assistants and bailiffs, though it maintains these are reserved for roles under special working conditions. The government also mentioned that salaries for all civil servants in the canton are scheduled to increase, and that a systemic solution for all judicial employees was proposed to the Federal Ministry of Justice in April 2026. Officials stated that the application of current salary decisions will begin once regular operations in judicial institutions are restored.