About the sector for work, employment, social protection and pensions

The field of work, employment, social welfare and pensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina is under the jurisdiction of the entity (Republika Srpska), divided jurisdiction of the entity and counties/cantons (Federation of BiH), that is, under the jurisdiction of Brčko District of BiH.

In the Federation of BiH, there is the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, and ten county/cantonal ministries that regulate this area, the Federal Employment Institute and ten county/cantonal employment institutes, the Federal Institute for Pension and Disability Insurance and ten county/cantonal funds for pension and disability insurance. In the Republika Srpska there is the Ministry of Economic Relations and Regional Cooperation of the Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Labor and Veterans and Disability Protection of the Republika Srpska, the Employment Agency of the Republika Srpska and the Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance of the Republika Srpska, while in the Brčko District of BiH there is the Department of Health and Other Services and the Department of Economic Development, Sports and Culture of the Government of the Brčko District of BiH and the Employment Agency of the Brčko District. At the state level, there is the Agency for Labor and Employment of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs coordinates activities in the field of labor, employment, social welfare and pensions at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and activities are implemented through the activities of the Sector for Labor, Employment, Social Welfare and Pensions.

The Sector for Labor, Employment, Social Welfare and Pensions in the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina plays a coordinating role in these areas. Activities are focused on harmonizing plans of entity government bodies, defining strategies at the international level, and ensuring efficient data exchange and cooperation with domestic and international institutions.

The Sector for Labor, Employment, Social Welfare and Pensions consists of two departments:

Department for Labor and Employment

Department for Social Welfare and Pensions

The Sector for Labor, Employment, Social Welfare and Pensions, in cooperation with the competent entity authorities, performs the following tasks:

Coordination and data exchange: establishing the basic principles of coordination of activities related to the harmonization of plans of entity authorities and defining strategies at the international level

Bilateral agreements: Drafting/drafting bilateral agreements on social security and temporary employment

Conventions: activities on Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to conventions and acceptance of recommendations of the International Labor Organization (ILO), preparing and submitting reports on the implementation of ratified conventions and acceptance of ILO recommendations, submitting reports on ILO conventions and recommendations that have not been accepted, participating in the preparation of texts of ILO conventions and recommendations.

International obligations: activities of preparing reports on the implementation of international agreements on social security and temporary employment with the aim of fulfilling international obligations and other tasks in accordance with Article 15 of the Law on Ministries and Other Bodies of Administration of BiH.

Competences in the field of work, employment, social welfare and pensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina are divided between the state, entity, cantonal and local levels.

State level:

- The Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina coordinates activities in the field of work, employment, social welfare and pensions at the state level. This ministry cooperates with entity ministries and other relevant institutions to ensure the harmonization of policies and standards in the field of labor, employment, social welfare and pensions.

Entity level:

- In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), responsibilities are divided between the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and the county/cantonal ministries.

- In the Republic of Srpska (RS), the Ministry of Economic Relations and Regional Cooperation of the RS, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the RS and the Ministry of Labor and Veterans' and Disability Protection of the RS have a central role in the creation and implementation of policies, regulations and programs in the field of work, employment, social welfare and pensions.

Brčko District:

- Brčko District has a Department for Economic Development, Sports and Culture and a Department for Health, which is responsible for policy and services in the District.

County/cantonal level:

- County/cantonal ministries implement policies, strategies and regulations at the local level.

Local level:

- Municipalities and cities have certain competences in the field of work and employment, social welfare and pensions.

Employment agencies and services, social welfare centers, pension and disability insurance agencies

- Employment agencies, social welfare centers and pension and disability insurance agencies operate within the framework defined by entity and county/cantonal ministries.