Anamarija Knezević, Podhum, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Money, money, money
Author: Anamarija Knezević
This is blatantly not possible! Only a handful of individuals can actually sustain themselves on their salary. Not just in Podhum, but throughout the entire city and country, people are not truly living, but rather barely surviving on their earnings, whether it’s a salary or a pension. This is especially true in Mostar, the most expensive city in the country, unless you happen to be one of the privileged few who are unconcerned about when their paycheck arrives, as they are merely working to escape their homes.
I was born in Mostar, into a large family consisting of five children, my parents, and myself. All of us successfully completed our education, but only our parents truly know the challenges they faced. After graduating from university within the expected timeframe, I was confident that I would quickly find a job in my field. I diligently prepared for and passed the state exam, which took a year, and those credentials represent the extent of my professional achievements.
In the pursuit of employment, I have taken on various roles, ranging from working at gas stations to cafes and flower shops. I consistently apply for job opportunities that align with my qualifications. If I am fortunate enough to be invited for an interview, additional rounds of evaluations follow, and ultimately, I receive rejection letters to my home address. Through my experiences attending job interviews, a disheartening realization emerged: these additional rounds often serve as breeding grounds for bribery and corruption, shifting the focus away from assessing knowledge and qualifications. Instead, it becomes a competition of who can offer more money—money that I don’t possess but am expected to provide. Where is the logic in that? Where is the fairness? The fee structures fluctuate based on the position, with higher-ranking roles demanding larger sums.
Then comes the issue of political affiliation. If you are a member of a political party and have someone to “watch your back,” then you have an advantage. And so the cycle continues indefinitely. Each step in the process has its own loophole or trick. Unfortunately, we find ourselves living in an era of bribery and corruption, where an honest individual struggles to secure employment. They are simply deemed “unsuitable.”
Even before the war, finding a job was never easy, but it was comparatively fairer, or so I’ve heard from my parents. There was a certain order to things. The employment office would actively invite individuals to apply for suitable positions that matched their qualifications. They would offer you a job three times that aligned with your expertise. If you declined these offers, you would no longer receive further invitations and would consequently lose your standing with the employment office. However, this is not the case anymore. Nowadays, being registered with the employment office simply grants you access to health insurance, but the likelihood of actually securing a job… well, you can pretty much forget about it.
After the war, everything underwent a profound transformation. Certain individuals have ‘managed’ to accumulate such vast fortunes that their great-grandchildren can live a life of comfort until the end of their days. It is important to note that these individuals are not thieves; they are resourceful individuals who have simply found a way to thrive. Meanwhile, honest and hardworking members of society find themselves teetering on the edge of poverty, feeling humiliated and deprived of their rights.
Currently, I am employed, although not in my desired profession, working for a private company. My husband also works in the private sector. We are married and living as tenants. Despite having two incomes in our household, we struggle to make ends meet. I do not have the luxury of annual leave or sick leave, and my wages are set at the minimum level for someone with my educational background. If I were to become pregnant, there is no chance I could maintain my employment. The contract would be terminated, and I would be left relying on meager financial support from the employment office for a short period of time. Additionally, the option of obtaining a loan is completely out of reach for me. Banks in the private sector only offer small loans, which provide minimal financial assistance, and the repayment terms often result in paying back more than the original borrowed amount. In stark contrast, employees in state-owned enterprises have no trouble securing housing loans because they are not faced with the constant threat from employers who say, “There are plenty of people willing to work.”
I used to commute to my previous job by train. At the train station, one truly gets an eyeful of everything.
From young students traveling to school or university, to elderly retirees heading out for day jobs as construction workers or fruit pickers—be it apples, mandarins, or grapes. It’s a stark reminder of the initial frustration I mentioned, where people are barely able to make ends meet with their wages or earnings. Sadly, those who should witness this reality and fulfill their pre-election promises remain oblivious. They fail to see it because they never step out of their comfort zones, shielded by personal drivers and the assorted perks that come with political involvement.
I eventually stopped commuting by train because it became increasingly difficult to spend quality time with my husband, who works in rotating shifts. It was solely for that reason that I decided to accept my current job.
Is there a possibility for change to take place? Can anything be done to bring about a shift? Is there a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel? These are the questions that constantly swirl in my mind.
It is not out of the realm of possibility for things to improve if there is a fundamental shift in people’s awareness. However, the current state of affairs is undeniably challenging. The future appears to be heading towards a path of decline, shrouded in a prevailing sense of negativity.
There are moments when it feels as though everything has conspired against the average person, against those who simply desire to work honestly and earn a decent living. Hopefully, one day, the suffering masses will remove their rose-colored glasses and rise up to fight for the rights that are legally guaranteed. The right to employment, the right to a decent standard of living, the right to a life that upholds the dignity of every human being.