BUCHAREST PROCESS

On invitation and by initiative of the Council of Europe, the International Labour Organization and Federal Public Employment Service of Belgium, and under auspieces of the Iniciative for Social Cohesion in the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, the ministers responsible for labour and employment policies of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia signed on 31 October 2003 the ''Bucharest Declaration''  which leads to fruitful cooperation in the framework of the Bucharest Process.

Thereby, they refered to the need for increased cooperation among members of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe in the proceeding transformation of their labour markets and social systems, through combined and coordinated efforts of all international organizations active in the region, maximal use of available resources for evasion of dual efforts, taking into account that effective operation of all labour markets is the basis of economic growth, access to social entitlements, particularly for vulnerable groups, and social cohesion in general.

Meanwhile, the Sofia Conclusions were signed, by which further activities of countries participants in the Bucharest Process were defined, and these are:

1. implementation of recommendations from the employment policy reviews;
2. further advancement of national employment policies with the aim of continuing the economic growth, social cohesion and regional stability;
3. advancement of active and passive labour market policies, with particular regard for employment of vulnerable groups;
4. promotion of gender equality in state employment strategies with the use of specific policies which aim at gender inequality and gender mainstreaming;
5. aspiration towards further progress and efficiency of the State Employment Services reports, gathering experiences from the region and best experiences of the European Union Member States.

With the aim of realizing what has been agreed upon, the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina prepared in cooperation with the Federal Employment Service, Employment Service of Republika Srpska and Employment Service of the Brčko District of BiH, the State Review on Employment Policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2005 which reviews in a thorough fashion the labour market situation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and activities of all Employment Services in the previous year.
The report was completed in April 2006.  As an official document titled the State Review on Employment Policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2005 it was submitted to the Council of Europe, Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, International Labour Organization and Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Dialogue of the Kingdom of Belgium, one of the most important donors in the process.

In May 2006 Ministries and Agencies responsible for employment of countries participants in the Bucharest Process received a circular in which they were informed on the new schedule of mutual employment policy review for 2005.

In the new review schedule the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina was for the first time entrusted with the employment policies review, what represents recognition to the development of this institution and its competence for further reforms on the labour market of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Representatives of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina accordingly entered the preparations for Employment Policies Review of the Republic of Croatia.  The mission itself was realized in July 2006.

Based on the on-site inquiry into the Croatian labour market situation and comprehensive analyses, the Report on Peer-review of the National Employment Policy of the Republic of Croatia was prepared and submitted to institutions which run the Bucharest Process.

The Fifth Meeting of the Permanent High Level Committee was held in Skopje from 04 – 05 December 2006.  On that occassion the Delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina presented their Report on Employment Policy in Croatia, which was assessed by the director of the Croatian Employment Service and representatives of institutions which run the Bucharest Process as very good and of high quality, with a number of relevant data, indicators and realistic recommendations.

As an additional credit to efforts of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina to establish cooperation among National Employment Services of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia, the organizers asked the director of the Agency to present the report on results of the ''Sarajevo Initiative'' and previous cooperation of National Employment Services of the above mentioned countries.

What is important to mention is that the Council of Europe and the International Labour Organization will jointly prepare the Report on Employment Policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2006 which will be presented in autumn  2007.  In that way, these relevant institutions will draw attention to the significance of the problem-solving issue on the labour market of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and try to place this issue in the focus of reform of overall society in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

STABILITY PACT FOR SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE

In the framework of regular activities of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is also the cooperation with the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.  It is imortant to remark that the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe has continuously organized a series of workshops with clearly defined tasks, such as compilation of such a strategy which will create conditions for faster employment and decrease of high unemployment rate in the countries of the region.  In that view, the importance of development of small and medium size enterprizes has been pointed out as one of possibilities for creation of new jobs.

The Delegation of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina acitively participates in these meetings and workshops, so it also participated in the regional meeting Enterpreneurship Development and Employment Growth held in Istanbul from 07 – 08 February 2006.  The following Theme Field was discussed in the meeting:

a) Support Schemes for Enterpreneurship Development, tasks, best practices and practical experiences;

b) Finantial instruments for the support of small/medium size enterprizes;

c) Nonfinantial instruments for the support of small/medium size enterprizes;

d) Enterpreneurship Support as a way of reducing negative effects of industrial restructuring.

Apart from representatives of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, representatives of the European Commission General Directorate for Enterpreneurship and Industry, the World Bank, European Development Bank and European Trade Union Confederation also took part in this meeting.

Representatives of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina took active part and proposed to put forward an initiative for establishment of a Guarantee Fund of the Western Balkan Countries in support of securing bank loans for development of small and medium size enterprizes which was supportet by the participants of the meeting.

WORLD ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICES – WAPES

SYMPOSIUM – BRUSSELS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND VII WAPES WORLD CONGRESS – CANADA

When speaking about the World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES), we wish to point out that the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina was admitted to the full membership at the Managerial Board of this Association on 25 March 2006 in Paris.  The practical importance of our membership in this Association goes without saying, it is enough to say that by this act we became entitled to the free access to all information from the field of labour and employment of the member countries, as well as technical assisstance which we need to harmonize the legislation in the field of labour and employment of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the EU standards and regulations.

Bearing in mind the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently going through the European Integration preparation process with the aim of signing the EU Stabilization and Accession Agreement, this membership gains more on its importance.

On invitation by WAPES the Delegation of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina actively participated in the work of two conferences this year.

The first one was held in Brussels from 07 – 09 March 2006 with the aim of clear defining the future role of National Employment Services in the EU.  Since the National Agencies provide services of general interest for the state, the key question which was minutely considered during this two-days symposium refered to which services should be provided by National Labour and Employment Agencies and which should be provided by private agencies.  A debate was held on this issue particularly on the basis on the ''Bolkenstein'' Directive which considers whether it is necessary or not to include services of general interest in the scope of this Directive.

Representatives of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina also participated in the work of the WAPES General Assembly which is by tradition held in combination with the World Congress.  These two important events were held this year in the Canadian City of Quebec from 14 – 20 May 2006. The delegates attending the Congress elected the new president and members of the Managing Board, and the main themes considered by the General Assembly among others are:

1. Performance of Public Employment Services in the 21. century – current challenges and innovations;

2. International context of National Employment Services;

3. Current challenges and innovations for Public Employment Services – regional context;

4. Dempgraphic trends and challenges for National Employment Services (PES),

5. Youth employment maximisation;

6. Retention and reintegration of experienced workers in work place;

7. Migration issue;

8. Innovative responses of Public Employment Services to fast global changes and approaches based on demand.

In the course of sessions of the General Assembly and VII WAPES World Congress, our Delegation used the opportunity to hold a series of very useful billateral talks with representatives of National Employment Services of Belgium, Austria, Camerun, Croatia, Slovenia, Sweden, FR Germany, France, Romania, Norway, Canada and with representatives of the International Labour Organization (ILO), exchanging thereby positive experiences from the field of labour and employment and social policy as well as operation of National Employment Service.

VISIT TO THE SWEDISH NATIONAL
LABOUR MARKET BOARD

On invitation of the Swedish National Labour Market Board (AMS) from Stockholm, the Delegation of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina payed the visit to this institution in the period from 15 to 19 February 2006, in the course of which the talks on cooperation from the field of labour and emplyment were held.

In the course of the talks with the host, the Delegation of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina worded interest for establishment and promotion of all aspects of cooperation from the field of labour and employment, particularly with regards to:

1. the closing of a business and technical collaboration agreement between two National Services,

2. employment of foreigners in Sweden in accordance with the Swedish Law on Employment of Foreigners, where the main accent was placed on initiation of inter-state agreement on employment of workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sweden,

3. exchange of positive experiences from the field of labour and employment, as well as measures which are implemented in the field of passive and active employment policy, vocational re-training and upgrading for unemployed persons in line with the needs expressed on the labour market,

4. possible expert and other kinds of assistance to the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 
In the course of mutual talks, the delegations passed the following joint conclusions:

1. Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a competent Ministry from the field of labour and employment, should ask from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) finantial assistance and approval of funds for joint projects between two state institutions in the field of labour and employment;

2. Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina should send Draft Proposal of Business and Technical Collaboration Agreement with the Swedish National Labour Market Board (AMS), which will serve as draft version till the final signing;

3. Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina shoould initiate the signing of the Inter-state Agreement on Employment of Workers form Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sweden.  It was concluded that there is a mutual interest for cooperation between state institutions from the field of labour and employment of Sweden and Bosnia and Herzegovina, whereby the representatives of the Labour and Employment Agency should select priorities which are in this moment most relevant for the field of labour market in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The talks between the representatives of the two institutions were closed as very successful and willingness for realizaton of conclusions was expressed.

COOPERATION WITH THE EUROPEAN TRAINING FOUNDATION (ETF)

On invitation of the European Training Foundation (ETF) from Turin, the Delegation of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in the Conference on Educational Policies Reviews in 2005 and Vocational Educational Policies in South Eastern Europe and Review preparation in 2006 which was held in Sofia from 07 – 08 April 2004..

The Conference was opened by Xavier Mathheu de Cortada on behalf of  ETF from Turin, Emilia Maslarova, Minister of labour and social policy of the Republic of Bulgaria and Ekaterina Vitkova, Assistant Minister for education of the Republic of Bulgaria.

In the introductory part of the Conference Mr. Soren Nielsen from ETF presented the concept and metodology by which the South East European states should have prepared their reports on educational policies and vocational educational policies.  After the introductory part, Mr. David Parkes, the leading expert in the field of education in the EU, summarized, in his capacity as an expert, all deficiencies of the existing educational policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria and Macedonia, which need to be redressed in the future period.

The main accent of discussion was on disproportion between education and labour market needs.  No South East European country has organized and harmonized its educational system with the labour market needs, what is considered to be the largest deficiency of educational strategies.  The expert teams which reviewed the State Reports on educational policies of the above mentioned countries, gave a series of recommendations to be taken to consideration by the governments of these countries, in order to have the educational policies harmonized with the ''Bologna Declaration'' and the EU standards from this field.

As a continuation of the activities started at an earlier stage, and on invitation by the Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF), Mrs. Muriel Dunbar, the Delegation of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the three-day Advisory Forum Skills for Progress, which was held in the period from 07 – 09 June 2006 in Turin. The Advisory Forum was organized by ETF, with the sponsorship of Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture and Federal Ministry for Economic Issues and Labour in the context of Austrian EU Presidency.

In the course of the Forum the representatives of the participant countries exchanged experiences on strategy of reforms in the field of Vocational and Educational
Training (VET) Programs, employment, social policy, particularly in the context of preparations for the new EU instruments for foreign affairs which will start to be implemented in 2007.

The work of the Forum unfolded through organization of Working Tables and regional meetings of the attending countries.
The Delegation of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in the regional meeting titled Countries in the Accession Phase – Candidates and Countries Potential Candidates.  The main debate in this regional meeting refered to the question of establishing cooperation in the exchange of good quality experiences between the countries including the labour market, social policy, vocational training, re-training and education.

In the regional meeting, the experts from Ireland and Germany offered proposals as to how the Candidate Countries could use the EU Accession Funds in a good quality way, particularly the EU Instrument for Pre-accession Assisstance (IPA).  It was recommended that the countries beneficiaries of the Pre-accession Funds be more involved in the selection of experts from the EU countries in projects to be realized in their countries.

The European Training Foundation held in the course of September, October and November 2006 three workshops in Prishtina, Podgorica and Sarajevo titled Employment and Human Resources Development: IPA and its implementation. The goal of these workshops was to familiarize the attendants with IPA, which will proceed in the period 2007 – 2013.

The IPA Project will unite different approaches, and the Project itself has five components:

1. Transitional systems and institution building,
2. Cross-border cooperation and cooperation with the neighbouring counties,
3. Regional development,
4. Human resources development and management of European Social Funds,
5. Rural development.

The mentioned workshops pointed out the importance of bringing together social partners who will act jointly in the framework of the IPA Project.

COOPERATION OF NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

Sarajevo Initiative

The Fourth Conference of National Employment Services of the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia was held in Tirana from 04 – 06 May 2006.

The most relevant issues considered at the Conference refered to new challenges for National Employment Service with the aim ot achieving higher efficiency on the labour market in line with the Lisbon Guidelines, measures taken in the mentioned countries for reduction of unemployment rate, and youth employment and development of training and re-training centres.

All countries attending the Conference underlined the ''grey economy'' as the main problem and agreed that transfer of informal labour into real frameworks could be realized only with amendments and tightening of legal provisions in the field of labour inspection and application of penal measures.  The attending countries also agreed on the stand to allocate larger funds in the field of active employment policy for young unemployed persons.  The mismatch between educational system and labour market demands for certain specialized vocations was also underlined as a problem, hence the need to establish vocational centres for employers' needs was stressed.

The Fifth International Conference of National Employment Agencies – Services of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia was held in Skopje in the period from 06 – 07 December 2006.  The topic of this Conference was Active Employment Measures with the aim to exchange experiences on self-employment, enterpreneurship, family business, employment of hard-to-employ persons, volunterism, measures for reduction of ''grey economy''.

Apart from the Delegations of the National Employment Agencies – Services of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia, the Conference was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Macedonia.  Experiences in the field of Active Employment Policies in the countries of the region were exchanged at the Conference.  

In the close of the working part of the Conference, the following conclusions were passed:

1. To organize the subsequent Conferences of National Employment Services on specialized topics from the field of labour and employment.

2. To organize an expert team, which would prepare the Balkan Centre work plan so as to exchange positive experiences in the employment field and implementation of programs and measures in order to promote employment in the context of the European Employment Strategy.

3. Directors of National Employment Agencies – Services reached consensus on decision to hold the joint cousultations one day prior to the Session of the Permanent High Level Committee and delegate one representative who would, on their behalf, present the harmonized conclusions at the Session of the Permanent High Level Committee of the Council of Europe.

4. To launch initiatives for the closing of inter-state agreements on labour force employment via responsible ministries of the Western Balkans countries.

5. To hold the Sixth Conference of National Employment Services of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia in May 2007 in Montenegro on topic of Publicity of Work of National Employment Services and Cooperation with the Media.

The Balkan Center

On invitation of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mrs. Emilia Maslarova, and the Director of the Employment Agency of Bulgaria, Mr. Sotir Ushev, the Delegation of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the First Conference of National Labour and Employment Agencies – Services of the Western Balkan countries held in Sofia from 26 – 28 October 2006.

The goal of the Conference was the establishment of the ''Balkan Center'' for exchange of good experiences in the employment field and implementation of programs and measures in order to promote employment in the context of the European Employment Stretegy.  Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey signed the ''Protocol of Partnership'' with the aim of establishing the ''Balkan Center''.   

It was concluded that the signing of the ''Protocol of Partnership'' among the attending countries would contribute to the exchange of positive experiences in the field of labour, employment and social policy, increase in efficiency of employment policies and faster economic growth, employment and social cohesion in the South East European countries.

Bilateral Cooperation 

National Employment Service of the Republic of Serbia

On invitation of the Director of the National Employment Service of the Republic of Serbia, the Delegation of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in the International Symposium titled Employment Programs – How to do More, and How to do it Better, which was held at Tara in the Republic of Serbia in June 2006.  Presentations of speakers brought forward previous experiences in individual employment programs, funding sources of employment programs, importance of linking additional education and employment programs, priority programs (the view of Trade Unions) and many other relevant topics, which provided the attendees with new cognitions and experiences they could implement in their environments or avoid errors in design and implementation of certain employment programs by ''learning from mistakes of others''.

A working meeting with representatives of the National Service of the Republic of Serbia was organized in the course of this Symposium, with regards to the harmonization of single standards for application of the Social Insurance Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the State Community of Serbia and Montenegro.

The final version of the harmonized standard for application of the Social Insurance Agreement was adopted in November 2006 at the meeting held in Sarajevo.

Employment Service of Montenegro

Representatives of the Labour and Employment Agency BiH visited in February the Employment Service of Montenegro in Podgorica.

The goal of this visit was for the experts in the employment field form Montenegro to communicate their experiences and knowledges referring to the course and results of the reorganisation process of the Employment Service structure and operations. In fact, several years ago, the Employment Service of Montenegro along with the responsible ministry and other active participants in the field of labour and employment, started the labour market reform and complete reorganization of the Employment Service.

Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia

In October, the Protocol of Mutual Cooperation between the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia was signed in Bihać, which officialized the previous cooperation in the field of labour and employment, the result of which will be the increased employment of labour force from Bosnia and Herzegovina in that state, new joint activities in promoting employment of youth, women, persons with special needs and other unemployed persons, cooperation with employers and prevention of informal work.

On invitation of the Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia,
the Director of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina visited this institution and held talks on cooperation in the field of labour and employment in the period from 12 – 14 December 2006.   In the context of the visit paid to the Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia, the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina held talks on:

1. Improvement of all aspects of cooperation from the field of labour and employment between two National Services;
2. Initiative by the Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia for closing of the Agreement on Employment of Workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republic of Slovenia;
3. Employment procedure for Bosnian-Herzegovinian workers in the Republic of Slovenia in accordance with the Law on the Employment of Foreigners of the Republic of Slovenia;
4. Feasible aspects of assistance to the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The joint conclusion after the talks was that the Employment Service of the Republic of Slovenia launch an initiative with their responsible ministry for closing of the Agreement on Employment of Workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republic of Slovenia.

It was concluded that the previous cooperation between these two institutions had been of a very good quality and that it should be continued and improved in the future.

Croatian Employment Service

The sustained cooperation and exchange of information and good experiences in the field of labour and employment, as well as the joint work in the framework of the ''Bucharest Process'' has been continued.

 After the meetings held with the Croatian Employment Service, the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina addressed an initiative at the Minstry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the aim of closing an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on temporary employment of Bosnian-Herzegovinian workers in the Republic of Croatia.  The closing of this Agreement would solve the issue of stimulating labour force mobility, controlling of informal work and labour and legal rights of workers. Draft text of the mentioned Agreement, which would regulate the employment of workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republic of Croatia, was submitted via the Ministry of Civil Affairs to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina for further procedure.
 
Employment Agency of the Republic of Macedonia

Owing to the realized cooperation, the representatives of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina were introduced to the organization of creation of the Long-term Employment Development Strategy and National Employment Action Plan.  The Macedonian experts provided all information about the way of work and offered assisstance in the drafting of those documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
                                                    
National Employment  Agency of the Republic of Albania

The sustained cooperation and exchange of information and good experiences in the field of labour and employment, as well as the joint work in the framework of Bucharest Process has been continued.

COOPERATION WITH THE KONRAD ADENAUER FOUNDATION

The German Foundation Konrad Adenauer and the Center for European Policy from Bratislava organized in Bosnia and Herzegovina a joint project in the domain of European Integration.  The project was organized as a cycle comprised of six seminars, and it gathered candidates of diverse vocationl skills from Bosnia and Herzegovina.  The project objective is education of Bosnian-Herzegovinian personnel in the domain of European Integration, with the intention to create prerequisites for faster overcoming of obstacles in the domain of European Integration and earn new knowledge, which would create new opportunities for participants on the labour market. The first seminar on European Union and European Policy was held in Sarajevo, the second one in Banja Luka, and the third one in Mostar.  Subject matters of the first and the second seminar refered to the history of the European Union, its institutions, experiences of the Slovak Republic in the process of European Integration, while the third seminar was entirely devoted to the path of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the  European Union.    

The fourth seminar on European Integration and European Policy was held in Sarajevo in the period from 16 – 19 February 2006.  The subject matter of this seminar refered to the European Union regional policy and project management, in the framework of which the special attention was paid to negotiations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union on the Stability and Accession Agreement and the European Union Funds.  The guest of the seminar was Igor Davidović, the chief of negotiation team of BosnIa and Herzegovina. 
The fifth seminar on European Union was held in Sarajevo in the period from 30 March to 02 April 2006 on topics such as European Law, Political Lobbing and the Media and Integration Projects.  The special emphasis was laid in this seminar on the Implementation of the Acquis Communtaire in Bosnia and Herzegovina and approximation of the international law and international standards.  The guests of the seminar were Mr. Mustafa Bisić, Assisstant Minister of Justice for realization of criminal sanctions and Chief of the Negotiation Group 7 in the negotiation process between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union, Mr. Miroslav Mojžita, ambassador of the Slovak Republic in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Milan Vetrak, advisor in the European Court of Justice and European Development Bank and former Director of the Center for Approximation in Slovakia, as well as Mr. Halid Genjac, member of the Joint Committee for European Integration of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.   

The final sixth seminar on European Integration was held in Bratislava in the period from 13 to 18 May 2006.  The seminar attendants were officialy awarded with the certificates on European Integration in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic. 

In the course of their visit to Bratislava, the seminar attendants visited the branch office of the European Union in Slovakia, the Peoples Assembly of the Slovak Republic, the Institute of International Relations and  the Council of Europe in Bratislava.  The Project which was implemented within 13 months, was assessed as exceptionally successful and useful, particularly from the aspect of importance for Bosnia and Herzegovina of the domain covered within the project, which necessitates professional and well educated personnel.

PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL PROJECT
INTERREG III A – SUBPROJECT SVILMA

In the organization of  Veneto Lavoro, the leader of the subproject SVILMA-INTERREG IIIA, which envisages the creation of single labour market in the Adriatic region, a specialized seminar in the framework of SVILMA Project realization was held in Neum in May.  The objective of this working seminar was the exchange of experiences with the Italian partner in the field of active employment policies implementation, introduction to the migratory flows in Italy, the legal framework which, among other things, provides for regulation of labour force migration issue (work permits and residence for foreigners), and ways of including foreigners in the Italian labour market. The Technical Assistance Action of the SVILMA Project for BiH which is devoted to the activities of education and communication, learning at distance for the employees of the Employment Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina was presented in the seminar.

By the end of May 2006 the final preparations for the implementation of the Learning-at-Distance System Project (FAD) in the framework of the SVILMA – INTERREG III A Project were completed, when the topics to be presented by Italian partners to the Project participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina were specified and selection of representatives made. The Project Implementation started in June which was attended by the representatives of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Entities' Employment Services in cycles, by scheduled topics, in two parts, in the period June – July and September – November. 

The Project Managing Board members from the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the Managing Board meeting held in November 2006 in Rome.
On that occassion the president of the Managing Board, along with his associates, delivered the full report on activities taken in the Project, as well as the results achieved in cooperation with the partners from the countries of the Adriatic region.  All partner countries in the Project, attending this gathering, presented their experiences and results achieved in the Project.  Particular satisfaction was shown in reference to the realization of Learning-at- Distance Program (Video Link), in the course of which the experts from Italy hald lectures to their associates from other partner countries in the field of labour market and social policy.

In the second part of the meeting the new joint project of Italian regions and partner countries titled Development of the Integrated Labour Market of the Adriatic region (DILMA) was presented.  The Project was proposed for adoption by the Italian Government to the Council of Europe and the Project objective is support for the countries of the Adriatic region in development of the single labour market and strengthening of institutional capacities in the field of labour market.  The Project will last 18 months and the implementation start was set for January 2007.

COOPERATION WITH THE DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO BiH

Representatives of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in the First Meeting of the Economic Dialogue, held in April, the objective of which is establishment of a framework for a detailed debate on economic situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and coming up with the way of future cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU in economic policy. 

Representatives of the European Commission were presented with the report titled Progress on the Labour Market in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  The First Meeting  of the Economic Dialogue was attended by the representatives of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina who talked with the representatives of the European Commission on economic progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Integration Process.

With the aim of drafting the Regular Report on BiH Progress in the European Integration Process, which the European Commission prepares each year and publishes along with the document European Partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovna, the Agency drafted the Report on Progress on the labour market in Bosnia and Herzegovina and submitted to the Directorate of European Integration. 

A representative of the Agency was attendant of the Second Summer School on topic Social Insurance organized by the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the framework of the CARDS Program for support of social institutions in South Eastern Europe.  The main objective was to enable detailed training on social insurance, laying particular stress on international standards in this domain. 

In the framework of the CARDS Program for 2006 the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina was granted funds for the project titled Strengthening of the Institutional Capacity of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina prepared by the Agency in cooperation with a representative of the Delegation of the European Commission to Bosnia and Herzegovina who was responsible for the Project implementation in the field of labour and employment and a representative of the Directorate of European Integration.
The general goal of this project is strengthening the institutional capacity of the Labour and Employment Agency in order to allow better functionality, improve its capacities and enable it to take up the EU standards.  The individual objectives of the project are the evaluation of the existing legal, institutional and structural framework of the Agency, the capacity strengthening of the Agency with regards to its general role, strengthening of human and operational capacities and establishment of adequate relations with other institutions at all levels and internationally. With regards to that, it is necessary to make analysis and draw up proposals for improvment of status, legislative, institutional  and functional framework of the Labour and Employment Agency, undertake the analysis of existing internal organization of the Agency and existing capacities in the European Integration Process.   

The Project will last eight months and it is expected to start in April 2007.  The Project implementation will be monitored by the Managing Board presided by a representative of the Agency, and members of other institutions involved in the labour and employment issue will be invited, as well as a representatve of the Delegation of the European Commission and the Directorate of European Integration.

In the course of 2005 and 2006, the CARDS Project titled Employment Policy Reform and Establishment of the Informational System of the Labour Market in Bosnia and Herzegovina was prepared in cooperation with the representatives of the European Commission and the Directorate of European Integration. 

The establishment of modern informational systems of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Entities’ Employment Services in line with the European Union standards and guidelines would allow more simple and successful supply and demand matching on the labour market of BiH and its entities, and realize more successful and easier monitoring of the labour market situation in the EU. To this end, representatives of the Agency, together with representatives of the Federal Employment Service, Employment Service of Republika Srpska and Employment Service of the Brčko District of BiH, set up a joint technical team to prepare a detailed description of equipment, which will be procured in the Project implementation.   

A representative of the Agency was member of the Commission for the Collection of Bids and Selection of the Best Procurer of Computer Equipment and Hardware with the aim of implementing this project which is very important for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

JOB FAIRS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

One of the recent activities carried out on the labour market in Bosnia and Herzegovina by Employment Services were Job Fairs.  In the last number of our Newsletter we informed you minutely on Job fairs in Bosnia and Herzegovina organized in 2005.  In this number we have prepared a brief overview of the results achieved in 2006.

In organization of the the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Public Administration Employment Service of the Unsko-sanski Canton Bihać, the second Labour Exchange was held on 14 March 2006 in Cazin, Unsko-sanski Canton, with the draft title First International Labour Exchange, for the employers who were offering vacancies were mostly from Slovenia and Croatia.  This Labour Exchange was exceptionally well visited where 14 employers reported 899 vacancies.  On that occassion, 440 unemployed persons were employed and the percentage of the filled announced vacancies is 48,94%.
The most recent Job Fair was held on 12 December 2006 in Tuzla in organization of the Public Administration Employment Service of the Tuzla Canton, Tuzla and the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  This Fair was attended by 54 employers who expressed the need for placement of 1.509 unemployed persons.  Over 2500 interviews with unemployed persons were conducted and on the same day 65 work contracts were signed with companies from Kladanj (54), Gračanica (6) and Gradačac (2).

According to the data available to the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the total number of employers who participated in the Job Fairs held so far is 251, and 4.454 vacancies have been announced.  1.045 unemployed persons have been employed.  The percentage of the filled vacancies is satisfying and it amounts to 23,46%.  Such mode of employers' immediate contacts with unemployed pesons through Labour Exchanges has shown good results, so that such practice will be continued in the future period.   

ROUND TABLE
„EXPERIENCES IN EMPLOYMENT OF FOREIGNERS“
Sarajevo, 20.12.2006

The Round Table on topic Experiences in Employment of Foreigners was held on 20 December 2006 in Sarajevo in the organization of the the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina as the first Round Table dealing with this topic.  

The Round Table was attended by the participants of the National Employment Agencies – Services of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia, representatives of the OHR, International Organization for Migration, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Security, Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, Entities' Ministries responsible for the field of labour and employment, Entities' Employment Services and Employment Service of the Brčko District, as well as the representatives of the Cantonal ministries in charge of labour and employment, Cantonal Employment Services and the media representatives.  The attendants had the opportunity to introduce themselves with different legal arrangements in this field in the countries of the region, their specific characteristics, work permits issuing procedures and results achieved in this field.

After a very interesting and dynamic discussion the following conclusions were adopted:

1. To bring in line the existing entity by-laws on employment of foreigners with the Law on Movement and Residence of Foreigners and Asylum.  

2. To organize within the shortest time-frame a joint meeting of the representatives of the Ministry of Security, Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Employment Services of BiH entities, Employment Service of the Brčko District and of responsible entity ministries of BiH entities on the issue of discussing amendments to the Law on Movement and Residence of Foreigners and Asylum.

3. To consider the possibility of regulating the employment of foreigners on the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina since the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina initiated and submitted the Predraft Law on Employment of Foreigners in Bosnia and Herzegovina via the Ministry of Civil Affairs in May 2005, which envisages the setting of quota in employment of foreigners in compliance with the needs of qualificational structure necessary for faster economic growth of Bosnia and Herzegovina.