Use caution with advertisements for jobs abroad



Concerning the information published in daily papers on the experiences of our workers in Qatar, we hereby inform the general public that the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the state institution competent for employment of the nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina abroad, has not received any official offer on available vacancies in the State of Qatar. 

 This is why we call upon our citizens to contact the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina if they receive any offer for a job abroad to check if they have been offered legal employment.   The situation with our workers in Qatar, who have been in the focus of the general public recently, unambiguously indicates to illegal employment.  In this particular case, our citizens violate the laws of the country of employment and accordingly cannot exercise their rights deriving from employment which they would have otherwise enjoyed if they had been employed legally.  

 It is important to stress that in case of legal employment, employer is always obliged to make an application for work permit with competent authorities and after obtaining the work permit a residence permit can be issued.  It is only then that the worker can travel to work abroad.  Working abroad with a tourist visa represents violation of law in all countries.

 Last, but not least, we would like to note that the Agreement on Employment between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the State of Qatar is pending ratification but the said Agreement cannot enter into force before its ratification by both countries.