The European Union and Sweden support employment in BiH

The 16 new beneficiaries who received grants through the EU4Employment project, which aims to improve socio-economic conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina by increasing employability and integrating individuals who are far from the labour market, were presented today in Sarajevo. The grant recipients are public employment services, educational institutions, social partners, NGOs, municipalities and other labour market actors, who will work on shaping future employment strategies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Thanks to the financial support of the European Union and Sweden, it is expected that 1,250 unemployed persons will be included in programs to increase employability including young people, women from rural areas, Roma and people with disabilities. Through these initiatives, at least 625 people will get employment, while at least 800 members of the Roma community will participate in activities to raise awareness about the labour market.

The Ambassador of the European Union to BiH, Luigi Soreca, emphasized the importance of this support for the country’s long-term development: "Everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina deserves the opportunity to succeed and contribute to society, regardless of their background or circumstances. 16 new grants through EU4Employment will benefit over 1,250 individuals, including young people, women in rural areas, persons with disabilities and the long-term unemployed. I am glad that the EU's €4 million investment in EU4Employment will have a lasting impact for the project's beneficiaries. The EU will remain a loyal partner to Bosnia and Herzegovina, providing crucial support to lay the foundations for a brighter future - a future within the European Union," said Ambassador Soreca.

Through the EU4Employment project, the European Union and Sweden strive to address the key challenges of the labour market in Bosnia and Herzegovina, relying on long-standing partnerships with institutions in the country. Using proven methods of the International Labour Organization in BiH, the project offers expert support for strengthening employment policies and strengthening institutions such as public employment services, educational institutions and non-governmental organizations.

"Sweden has been actively supporting productive employment and the necessary improvements to ensure decent working conditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina for many years. The EU4 Employment program has enabled us to join our efforts together with the European Union to provide even more targeted and extensive assistance. We look forward to the results aimed at removing systemic obstacles that prevent the activation of the labour force and securing jobs for those who are far from the labour market," concluded the Ambassador of Sweden to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Helena Lagerlöf.

This event entitled "Let's make the world of work inclusive: Providing integrative support to people who are far from the labour market" brought together relevant representatives of labour market institutions, organizations participating in the implementation of employment projects and other participants in the labour market in BiH to share their experiences and discussed future strategies to support people far from the labor market.

"Employers do not trust people with intellectual disabilities. They are bypassed in the open market even though they can be completely equal employees, like everyone else. That is why the project we are implementing in the next 16 months overcomes these obstacles in the desire to enable people with disabilities to believe in their own strength, to prove to employers that they can do much more than they currently think they can," said Jasminka Rebac, manager of the Ružičnjak project, which is awarded grants for support for people with disabilities.

The EU4Employment project is financed by the European Union in the amount of 4 million euros and by Sweden in the amount of 1 million euros, and is implemented by the International Labour Organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through social dialogue and strong normative and technical expertise, projects implemented by the International Labour Organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina have achieved significant results for women and men who need support in order to ensure dignified work and thereby make the world of work inclusive.

The International Labour Organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina believes that people who face multiple barriers, such as women from rural areas or people with disabilities, can be successfully integrated into the labour market, but it is crucial to invest in improving active policies and measures in the labour market, but also to strengthen institutions that they are carried out, such as institutes and employment services.