Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Paid Educational Leave Convention, 1974 (No. 140) - Bosnia and Herzegovina (Ratification: 1993)

The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2013, which includes observations made by the Union of Association of Employers of the Republika Srpska and the Confederation of Trade Unions of the Republika Srpska (SSRS). The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republika Srpska reiterate that the reason for the absence of a national policy to promote paid educational leave is that the terms and methods of education, training and professional development are governed by collective agreements and employment rules. The Committee takes note of the excerpt from one collective agreement submitted by the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina which stipulates that employees of administrative authorities and judicial authorities have the right to paid absence from work for the preparation and skills examination required for the job to which the employee is assigned. The Committee also notes that the Adult Education Law of the Republika Srpska stipulates that the right to absence from work for education and training is regulated by the law and collective agreements. In its observations, the SSRS points out that only a small number of employees are granted paid educational leave and indicates that given the importance of education and training, it has demanded and incorporated in the general collective agreement a provision to grant paid educational leave. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing in its next report extracts of other collective agreements as well as relevant regulatory texts which give effect to the Convention. The Government is also invited to include in its next report relevant information and documentation, such as reports, studies and statistics that would allow an appreciation of the application of the Convention in practice (Part V of the report form).