2016 Annual Review of Labour Relations and Social Dialogue Bosnia and Herzegovina EMINA ABRAHAMSDOTTER February 2017  The socio-economic developments in 2016 have been characterized by modest economic growth, a slight rise in the employment rate and a decrease in the unemployment rate.  Women make up the majority of unemployed persons, nearly 53 per cent, and still have a low economic participation rate in the labour market.  The a verage net gross wage increased and was 843 BAM(€431) in December 2016. The minimum pension remained unchanged in both entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina(BiH).  The ratio between the consumer basket of necessary goods and services as calculated by the trade unions and the average wage is 47 per cent. This means that huge number of workers live in poverty and/or very dire conditions.  In the political context the EU-driven Reform Agenda 2015-2018(RA) adopted in July 2015 continued to be pursued in 2016. New laws and policies have been adopted, including a new Labour Law in the Federation of BiH(FBiH). The Reform Agenda fails to address the issues of the Decent Work, and is not gender-aware. It is not focused on reducing inequalities and widespread poverty, including working poverty.  Social partners had intensive bargaining in 2016. The General Collective Agreement was signed in FBiH but only a few branch collective agreements in FBiH had been signed by the end of the year. The social partners in Republika Srpska(RS) have not yet signed a new General Collective Agreement.