September 25 – Living Wage Action Day: ZORA joins the global call for fair wages

The Association for Social, Cultural and Creative Development ZORA proudly announces its participation in the international Living Wage Action Day on September 25. On this day, organisations and individuals from more than 30 countries unite to send a clear message: a living wage is not a privilege – it is a right. ⸻ Why Living Wage Action Day Matters • In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the current minimum wage is around BAM 1,000 in the Federation, a notable increase from the previous BAM 619. Yet this covers only about one-third of the actual living wage – the amount needed to live without constant worry about basic expenses. • Similar trends are found across the Western Balkans: inflation and rising costs of housing, food, healthcare and education outpace minimum wages, leaving many workers in persistent insecurity. ⸻ ZORA’s Call to Action ZORA invites everyone to get involved: 1. Sign the Living Wage Declaration – to jointly urge decision-makers to legally define and implement a living wage. 2. Share your personal cost-of-living data – how much income is needed for a dignified life in your municipality, canton, or country? Your input helps build pressure based on real figures. 3. Use and share campaign visuals – posters, banners, and photos of workers carrying the key messages; make the call for living wages visible in the media and public space. 4. Engage employers and local authorities – demand that genuine living costs, inflation, and family sustainability be taken into account when setting minimum wages, social rights, and collective agreements. ⸻ ZORA and the Living Wage Campaign Through initiatives such as the Labour Rights Academy, ZORA has long been raising awareness, advocating, and researching the real cost of living in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These efforts lay the groundwork for policies that make a living wage a standard, not just an aspiration. ⸻ Call to Media and Social Networks We invite media outlets to follow, report on, and support this day—giving voice to workers who experience daily what it means when wages fall short. On social media, please use the hashtags #LivingWageNow #LW4AllNotWealthForaFew #ZORA #JustWages to join the conversation.