After being reviewed by the Legislative Committee on May 6 and by the Committee for Labor, Health, and Social Protection on the morning of May 7, the Draft Law on Professional Rehabilitation, Training, and Employment of Persons with Disabilities of the Brčko District of BiH was forwarded for further parliamentary procedure and presented to the deputies of the Brčko District Assembly on May 7. Thanks to the fact that it was at the very beginning of the agenda of the Assembly's 10th regular session—which was interrupted after the third item—the draft law was adopted in its "first reading."

This is an extremely important law, which, once finally adopted and implemented, will fill a gap that exists in the Brčko District. Unlike the BiH entities and neighboring countries, the District does not have legally regulated rights for persons with disabilities regarding employment and professional rehabilitation. This legal vacuum has further hindered access to the labor market and contributed to the discrimination of this vulnerable group.

This issue has long been highlighted by the Citizens' Association Vjera i Nada, which, together with partner organizations and with the support of the PRAGG project, has been leading a campaign for the adoption of the law. These civil society organizations submitted a series of amendments to the draft law. The proposed changes are clearly aimed at ensuring that the rights of persons with disabilities do not remain merely theoretical but are applicable in real life. The focus is on concrete improvements that would turn the law into an effective support mechanism for persons with disabilities.

“We want the employment preference not to be tied solely to candidates having an equal number of points, but to ensure that persons with disabilities have a real chance if they are among the best candidates. We proposed that employers who are not legally obliged to hire persons with disabilities can, instead of paying contributions, purchase goods and services from enterprises that employ persons with disabilities. This is a concrete form of support for inclusive jobs, not just a budgetary obligation. We also proposed easing the conditions for establishing inclusive enterprises because we believe that even small businesses can be part of the change if the law allows it. Additionally, we requested that public institutions fulfill at least 20% of their needs for goods and services through these enterprises—just as is already the case in the entities—since the citizens of the Brčko District should not have fewer rights. Finally, we proposed increasing penalties for those who violate the law because personal accountability must exist. These changes alter the system’s logic and create space for the equal participation of persons with disabilities in the labor market,” said Nataša Damjanović, president of Vjera i Nada.

In addition to the draft law, which was unanimously adopted in the first reading by all members present at the session, a decision was made to organize two public hearings, scheduled for May 13 and 15, 2025, to involve the wider community in shaping the final content of the law.

"The Brčko District Assembly considers this legislative proposal extremely important because, for the first time, it systematically regulates the area of professional rehabilitation, training, and employment of persons with disabilities. The aim and intention of this law are to actively include them in the community and ensure their equal participation in the labor market. By organizing two public hearings, we want to involve as wide a public as possible—experts, associations, and citizens—so that before the final, second adoption, we can achieve a high-quality, applicable, and European-aligned law. The greatest beneficiaries of this legislation will be persons with disabilities, who will gain greater employment opportunities and active inclusion in social life. Unfortunately, it is regrettable that we, as a community, are the last in Europe to adopt such a legislative solution. However, this only further obliges us to consider the best European and regional practices through the public hearings and adapt them to the needs of our society. Therefore, I invite all associations, persons with disabilities, experts, and interested citizens to actively participate in the upcoming public hearings,” stated Damir Bulčević, President of the Brčko District Assembly.

"Although we are pleased that this important law has finally been placed on the agenda, we are not fully satisfied with its content. Our association and partner organizations plan to participate in the public hearings to present our objections and advocate for a law that will truly improve the position of persons with disabilities. The law must not be just a formality—it must be a tool for real change! A strong community begins with inclusion—employing persons with disabilities benefits the entire society," emphasized representatives of the association Vjera i Nada.