ŠERANIĆ: A FIVE PERCENT SALARY INCREASE AND A 250 KM ALLOWANCE ARE BEING CONSIDERED

BANJA LUKA, MARCH 3 /SRNA/ - The Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska Alen Šeranić, stated that he is in talks with trade union representatives about increasing salaries for healthcare workers, and that a five percent salary increase and the introduction of a healthcare allowance of 250 KM are being considered.

Šeranić specified that he has so far discussed salary increases with two of the four representative healthcare workers' unions in Republika Srpska.

"We want to inform them about our intention regarding activities that would take place concerning the increase of income in the healthcare sector. In line with what the President /of SNSD, Milorad/ Dodik said in previous months," Šeranić told journalists in Banja Luka.

He stated that this refers to a five percent salary increase for all healthcare workers.

"An option of up to 10 percent is also being considered; we will see in accordance with the activities we have. On the other hand, a healthcare allowance is being considered, which we would introduce as an increase in healthcare workers' earnings," Šeranić said.

The Minister of Health recalled that in the previous period there had been requests from healthcare unions for salary increases similar to those granted to employees of the Police of Republika Srpska.

"In line with those requests, we saw that we could proceed with an increase through a healthcare allowance for healthcare workers themselves. The proposal is for it to amount to 250 KM net," Šeranić emphasized.

He added that certain calculations indicate that 75 to 80 million KM annually would need to be secured for the mentioned increases.