Islamabad, Aug 30: 39 Pakistani nationals had their work visas revoked by Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as part of an effort to stop foreign workers from abusing their visas.
The Pakistani laborers used their work visas from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to travel to Croatia and subsequently other EU nations, including the Schengen Area, according to information released by the SFA of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The authorities in Bosnia have issued a warning, stating that anyone found to be abusing their work licenses to enter other countries unlawfully will have their credentials revoked. In addition, as part of the ongoing operation, SFA is now reviewing the cases of fourteen citizens of Bangladesh.
In an effort to fill labor shortages, Bosnia and Herzegovina is focusing on work visa abuse by luring immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal. Some migrants have traveled to Croatia and other EU countries using their visas, despite the fact that there are jobs available in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In order to work in Bosnia and Herzegovina, foreign nationals must first enter the country with a valid visa.
After that, they must apply for work permits through the Employment Service offices, for which employers are responsible. These permits can be renewed once they are issued and have a one-year expiration date.3,230 work permits were issued by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first half of this year.
With the exception of those in Bosnia and Herzegovina who were not granted permits due to certain circumstances, the UNIDAD Employment Agency reported granting over 3,500 permits in the first eleven months of 2023.
Since 2020, the number of foreign workers in the country has doubled, although it is still tiny when compared to Croatia, which has 140,000 of them. The industries with the most labor shortages include manufacturing, catering, and construction, where a large number of workers are from Kuwait, Bangladesh, Bangladesh, and Serbia.
