Zenica miners announce protests over three months of unpaid wages

Miners from the Zenica Brown Coal Mine (RMU Zenica) have announced protests in front of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo this Wednesday. The workers are demanding the payment of three months of unpaid wages.

The situation follows a period of extreme distress, including an incident in early August where some miners spent eight days inside a mine shaft due to desperation. While they eventually emerged, no concrete agreement or payment date was reached.

RMU Zenica has ceased production following a 2023 decision to close the mine due to years of losses, declining production, and the need for significant investment. While a World Bank loan is intended to address these issues, workers report that the necessary steps for its implementation have not yet materialized. Union leaders and workers have criticized the ministry for failing to provide an alternative plan or a reliable timeline for resolving the financial crisis.