Workers demand regular salaries, improved retirement terms as coal sector struggles deepen
More than 500 miners from across Bosnia and Herzegovina marched in the capital Sarajevo on Monday, urging authorities to address months of unpaid wages and worsening pension conditions amid deepening troubles in the country's coal sector.
Gathering in front of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina government headquarters, miners chanted slogans and held banners demanding financial security.
Many said they had not been paid for May and June and voiced fears about the future of their pension benefits.
Senad Sejdic, head of the Kreka Mine Union in Tuzla, described the situation as critical.
“Miners are essential workers, but we are treated as if we don't matter,” Sejdic said.
“For two or three months, we've received no salaries. Even when payments arrive, they are late. Our pension system is now in a deadlock.”
Bosnia's coal industry -- once a backbone of the economy -- has faced chronic mismanagement, underinvestment, and declining production in recent years.
State-owned mines, including those in Tuzla and Zenica, have struggled to cover operational costs, with repeated delays in wage payments sparking protests.
Union representatives warned that continued disruptions could lead to strikes, further threatening electricity generation — as Bosnia relies heavily on coal-fired power plants.
According to local reports, a delegation of miners entered the government building to negotiate with officials.
So far, no agreement has been announced.
While the Federation government had previously pledged to reform the coal sector, miners argue that reforms have failed to address urgent issues, such as unpaid wages and pensions.
Protests by miners are not uncommon in Bosnia, reflecting the long-standing difficulties in the energy and industrial sectors.
