Governance

Labor and social policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina is within the competence of entities and Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, social policy and health protection are within the shared competence of the entity and ten cantons. In that sense, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ministries responsible for labor, social policies and health protection are the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Health and respective ministries in the ten cantons. 

The Republika Srpska Ministry of Labor, War Veterans and Disabled Persons’ Protection and the Republika Srpska Ministry of Health and Social Welfare are responsible for policymaking in these areas, including monitoring of the trends. The Department for Health and Other Services is competent for social policy in Brčko District, while a separate department for labor does not currently exist.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees are assigned only a coordinating role when representing the economy’s interests abroad. Along with the competent ministries, a monitoring role is assigned, by relevant laws and policies, to the entities and Brčko District’s economic and social councils, but primarily for the purpose of their internal decision-making. Besides, at the state level, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Labor and Employment Agency has a coordinating role (including monitoring and data-collection) when representing public employment services of entities and Brčko District abroad.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate for Economic Planning oversees analyzing economic and social trends as well as monitoring the implementation of economic strategies. When it comes to occupational health and safety, this area is monitored by the administrations for inspection affairs in coordination with the above-mentioned relevant ministries. Entity and state-level statistics institutes/agencies oversee gathering and systematizing statistical data on the relevant labor market, education and social indicators and conducting surveys based on internationally defined methodologies (e.g., Labor Force Survey, Household Budget Survey, etc.).

Some policy progress has occurred in 2020 and early 2021, especially in Republika Srpska, thereby enhancing the relevance of education to labor market trends and industries’ needs. There were no significant entity-level improvements of education policy in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which can be partially attributed to the limited jurisdiction of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina over education policy (it is mainly under the competence of cantons).

Decentralized education in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina makes proper monitoring of policy developments in this respect difficult. However, it is worth mentioning that the Law on Dual Education is in the process of preparation in the Sarajevo Canton and the first draft was developed in 2019. In January 2020, the Government of the Sarajevo Canton instructed the cantonal Ministry of Education, Science and Youth to submit the draft law for review and the adoption procedure. However, the policy drafting process has not been finalized yet. In Republika Srpska, the Adult Education Policy 2021-2031 was adopted in December 2020, thus defining the strategic framework for policy in this area for the first time.

An important novelty is a possibility for higher education institutions to organize shorter nondegree study programs lasting 1–2 years (60-120 ECTS), with a clearly defined purpose, as a faster and more efficient response to the labor market trends and needs. This improves the connection between higher education and the labor market. Finally, the Council of Ministers has adopted a state-level policy Improving the Quality and Relevance of Vocational Education and Training in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Based on the Conclusions from Riga (2021-2030) in January 2021.

The main policy response to labor market disruptions caused by the COVID-19 crisis were the Employment Retention Measures implemented as wage subsidies. 

Cross-sectoral cooperation

Bosnia and Herzegovina has established several mechanisms to foster cross-sectoral cooperation among ministries, departments, and agencies involved in youth employment and entrepreneurship. These efforts span various administrative levels and involve collaboration with civil society organizations to address the multifaceted challenges faced by young people.

In addition to the Commission for Coordination of Youth Issues under the Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Civil Affairs, entity-level ministries and the Youth Commission within the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina Assembly, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Agency for Labor and Employment is also a very important cross-sectoral cooperation institution which collaborates with entity employment services to coordinate employment policies, including those targeting youth. It also liaises with international organizations to align domestic employment strategies with global standards.

Cross-Sectoral Initiatives

Youth Guarantee Initiative is supported by the European Union aiming to ensure that young people under 30 receive employment, education, or training opportunities within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education. The initiative involves coordination among the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the International Labor Organization, entity ministries, employment services, and youth councils.

One-Stop-Shop for Youth Entrepreneurship is a cross-border project between the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This initiative develops a centralized service to support youth entrepreneurship. It includes mapping local needs, providing educational courses, and organizing mentorship programs, involving collaboration between NGOs, local governments, and educational institutions.

The Youth Incubator Platform has been developed by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Youth Council and offers resources and support for youth organizations and informal groups. It facilitates access to materials on project management, legal procedures, and advocacy, promoting collaboration between youth organizations and governmental bodies.