- Title: Bosnian bus firm predicts layoffs if no state help to weather coronavirus
- Date: 10th April 2020
- Summary: SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (APRIL 9, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BUSES PARKED IN LOT OF BUS OPERATOR CENTROTRANS VARIOUS OF BUSES PARKED BEHIND LOT FENCE AERIAL VIEW OF PARKED BUSES CENTROTRANS DIRECTOR, SAFUDIN CENGIC, WEARING PROTECTIVE MASK, WALKING NEXT TO PARKED BUSES SLOGAN ON SIDE OF BUS, READING (English): "YOUR CONNECTION ACROSS EUROPE" (SOUNDBITE) (Bosnian) CENTROTRANS DIRECTOR, SAFUDIN CENGIC, SAYING: "There is a certain concern (about economic effects from CODVID-19), the uncertainty grows by the day. I hope that state institutions will find a way to help the economy and (private) enterprises." AERIAL VIEW OF PARKED BUSES (SOUNDBITE) (Bosnian) CENTROTRANS DIRECTOR, SAFUDIN CENGIC, SAYING: "In April we won't have even 5% of the necessary revenue while we're keeping all the Centrotrans employees, so we'll have to use all our reserves to pay wages. Without assistance from state institutions, we'll be forced to lay off a certain number of workers." BUSES PARKED IN LOT BUS DRIVER ELDIN ILIC, WEARING PROTECTIVE MASK, CHECKING BUS INTERIOR ILIC BEHIND STEERING WHEEL, STARTING BUS ENGINE ILIC BEHIND STEERING WHEEL, WIPING BUS CONTROLS BUSES PARKED IN LOT (SOUNDBITE) (Bosnian) BUS DRIVER, ELDIN ILIC, SAYING: "We're all afraid, for our families and our company, but I honestly hope the management and the government will find a way to overcome this crisis." AERIAL VIEW OF PARKED BUSES
- Embargoed: 24th April 2020 13:39
- Keywords: Bosnia and Herzegovina COVID-19 Sarajevo bus company coronavirus economy financial aid layoffs pandemic public health measures
- Location: SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
- City: SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
- Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Topics: Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA001C8WS1TL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Bosnia's largest bus operator will begin laying off employees if the state does not step in to help during the coronavirus pandemic, the company's CEO said on Thursday (April 9).
Centrotrans Eurolines CEO Safudin Cengic, said the company, which operates 300 buses on domestic and international routes, is currently keeping all 620 employees on its payroll but will have to use all its reserves to pay wages for April.
Cengic said that without help Centrotans would be forced to start cutting staff, but he remained hopeful state institutions would intervene and help the economy and private enterprises.
Centrotrans Eurolines has a regular monthly turnover of 2.5 million euros (2.7 million US dollars) but after the Bosnian government decided to ban public transport due to the COVID-19 crisis, monthly earnings fell to 10,000 euros (10,944 US dollars).
The company currently has 30 employees actively working and operates six buses which are used to transport medical personnel who are engaged in fighting COVID-19.
(Production: Dado Ruvic, Fedja Grulovic, Dominik Starosz) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
