Economic Reform Programme (ERP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2018 – 2020)

Area: Education and Skills
Reform measure: Improving links between education and the labour market (BiH Council of Ministers, the Government of the Federation of BiH and the Government of Republika Srpska)
Activities planned in 2018 by the Government of the Federation of BiH
  • Attract the intellectual and scientific potential of the diaspora and facilitate the visa regime for students, researchers and science professionals in order to improve student and academic mobility and include the scientific potential of the diaspora into the education process.
Activities planned in 2018 by Republika Srpska
  • Adoption of the Law on Secondary Education;
  • Adoption of the Rulebook on the enrolment plan for the following school year and Rulebook on enrolment of pupils in the first grade of secondary school (the enrolment policy for secondary schools will be developed in accordance with the real needs of employers; the Government and employers will agree on supply of equipment to technical schools, while special attention will be paid to linking schools with the industry in order to ensure the conditions for traineeships for occupations in demand);
  • Options for paid traineeships for pupils training with an employer will be found by signing contracts between the school and employer; The current higher education scholarship principle will be reevaluated in a way that will pay more attention to students who complete their obligations on time;
  • Enhancing the quality of work of the RS Pedagogical Institute through modernisation;
  • Adoption of the Rulebook on classification of occupations and Rulebook on methodology of education through traineeships with employers;
  • Establishment of institutional support to identifying the needs of the labour market for specific occupations and professions over a period of three to five years.
Activities planned in 2019 by Republika Srpska
  • Develop 20 occupational standards;
  • Develop flexible curricula with up to 20% of curricula created by teachers, pupils and schools in cooperation with the local community;
  • In cooperation with relevant institutions, develop the Action Plan of developing revised modular curricula, in accordance with the needs of the labour market;
  • Raise awareness on the importance of entrepreneurial education (Continually)
Activities planned in 2020 by Republika Srpska
  • Define rules and procedures for development of the Qualifications Framework for secondary vocational education;
  • Develop 10 occupational standards;
  • Developed Qualifications Framework from the second to the fifth qualifications level;
  • Adopted Continuous Training Programme for Teachers in Vocational Education, harmonised with labour market needs (continually).
Area: Employment and labour markets
Reform measure 4.3.8.1: Improving the labour market efficiency (BiH Council of Ministers, the Government of the Federation of BiH and the Government of Republika Srpska)
Activities planned in 2018 by Government of the Federation of BiH
  • Rulebook on Records in the Area of Employment.
  • Law on Strike.
  • Law on Security and Safety at Work.
  • Law on Peaceful Resolution of Labour Disputes.
  • Implement employment and self-employment programmes aimed at young people, women and other vulnerable groups of the unemployed.
  • Law on Representation of Trade Unions and Employers’ Associations.
Activities planned in 2019 by Government of the Federation of BiH
  • Law on Economic and Social Council.
Activities planned in 2020 Government of the Federation of BiH
  • Law on Employees’ Council.
Reform measure 4.3.8.3: Improving the labour market efficiency and Employment Agency reform (RS)
Activities planned in 2018 by Government of the Federation of BiH
  • Activities planned in 2018 by Republika Srpska