(Luan
Qorraj)
Behxhet Shala: because of the deep economic
crisis, workers are obliged to submit to all kinds of blackmail from their
employers in order to be paid, even if the salary is minimal.
Kosovo, says Shala, has labor laws, but the problem is that in job-hungry Kosovo it is very easy to by-pass the law since people would endure almost anything not to lose the job that ensures even a minimal income. That situation allows the employers to give themselves more rights than they should have.
Behxhet Shala: In most cases the employer has
the right to decide anything he wants. It’s the employer’s choice to pay
overtime or not, the right to vacation is not recognized, neither is maternity
leave. Actually it is very rare that the employer respects either the contract
or the labor law.
Traditionally, the first of May has been an official holiday
in Kosovo, and until the 90s, was usually marked by various staged events
glorifying the working class and the struggle to build a socialist society. But
it has for the most lost its significance over the last decade. This year though, May 1st will be
marked by a protest in Prishtina organized by the association of
independent workers unions of Kosovo (BSPK).
Hasan Abazi heads the metal workers union – he says that despite all the
promises of the past four years, the situation of the workers has steadily
deteriorated.
Hasan Abazi: At this moment, wages are
miserable. Before there was the Deutsch mark, now it’s the Euro. With DM’s we
were able to cope somehow but with the exchange rate, it has become very
difficult for a 5 or 6 member family to live a normal life in Kosovo with
nothing but a fistful of Euros.
Carl Jenkins is the program manager of the Employment
Assistance Service, a department of the IOM, focused on
helping the unemployed as well as assisting businesses with start-up plans,
expansion, capacity building needs and employment recruitment. He says that the
biggest problem in Kosovo is unemployment and how to tackle it. Given the
challenge of putting Kosovo back on its feet economically, the ministry of
labor and social welfare has not done badly, he adds, but much more needs to be
done.
And fears Jenkins, local authorities seem
to be overwhelmed by the sheer task involved.
Carl Jenkins: n average
employment advisor should be dealing with 300 people on their books, their
advisors have 3000, its very difficult to keep up because of massive
unemployment levels and also their budget allows so many employment places, but
also there is a need for upgrading to European standards. But its still going
to be a big job, economic factors have to come in to play at the same time
because the institution can’t do it alone. I think there is a very big need for
awareness that people have to take a risk to move forward and also to take
responsibility at the same time.
Perhaps, but the people are getting restive, and warns Hasan Abazi of the BSPK, today’s protest may just be a warm up for the real protests ahead. The people are tired of talking, he says, they want results:
Hasan Abazi: is better to tell
international and local institutions today to draft their plans and help the
workers and the people of Kosovo before it becomes too late. They shouldn’t use
this social calm that is currently here. For ten years these people protested
for their rights, for freedom, for independence. But it is certain that one
day, the union and the people will be very tired of all of this and it will
start seeking it’s rights on the street.
And with this we close today’s, thanks
for listening and stay tuned for more.
1ST
OF May
And what is status of Kosovar workers? With well over 400 thousand unemployed , an
almost non-existent local production, locked up factories and salaries that
rarely reach the 150 Euro life is not easy. Plus there are growing reports of
various breaches of workers rights in private, as well as the social sector.
CUT 1 : because of the deep economic crisis the workers
are obliged to undergo various blackmails made by the employers only to ensure
any kind of salary, be it minimal…
Kosovo, says Shala, has a labor law, which should be taking
care of irregularities and exploitation of Kosovar workers but the problem is
that in a job-less kosovo it is very easy to by-pass the law since people would
endure almost anything not to loose the job that ensures even minimal income.
That situation allows the employers to give themselves more rights than they
should have:
CUT 2: Tr 03: In most cases the employer has the right to
decide any way he wants. He takes the right of not paying if the worker works
more than the working hours, they do not recognize the right to vacation, there
is no recognition of birth vacation for pregnant women. Actualy it is very rare
that the employer keeps up with the contract or the labor law.
Traditionally, the first of May in Kosovo is an official
holiday and until the 90s it was usually marked by various staged events
glorifying the working class and it’s struggle to build a socialist society.
Through the last decade the date has been observed mainly as just another
ordinary day. This 1st of may, however, the association of
independent workers unions of Kosovo (BSPK) has organized a protest in the
center of Prishtina. The event – an expression of the unhappiness of Kosovar
workers with the situation they are in. Hasan Abazi is the head of the metal
workers union the head of the organizing board of the protests says that
despite all the promises given during the past four years situation for the
workers is getting worse and worse.
CUT 3 : Tr 12: At this moment the wages are miserable.
Before there was Deutch mark, now it’s Euro. With DM’s we were able to cope
somehow but with the change Euro has gone down so it became very difficult for
a 5 or 6 member family to secure normal life in Kosovo with nothing but a
fistful of Euros
Carl Jenkins, is the program manager of IOM’s
employment assistance Service (EAS) which is focused on
capacity building of unemployed individuals as well as assisting business with
their start-up, expansion, capacity building needs and employment recruitment.
He says that the biggest problem economic problem in Kosovo today is
unemployment and how to tackle it. Tackling this has to be done by all relevant
authorities. The ministry of labour and social welfare has done a pretty good
job given the challenge they faced.
Another problem is the lack of
information, or that people don’t seem to have access to relevant information.
So what is the track record of local
authorities – they started from scratch and the road has not been easy; on the
positive side, it is true their capacities are growing, but adds Jenkins, they
are overwhelmed by the sheer task involved.
Track 9 + 10 An average employment
advisor should be dealing with 300 people on their books, their advisors have
3000, its very difficult to keep up (edit out my question) because of massive
unemployment levels and also their budget allows so many employment places, but
also there is a need for upgrading to European standards. (edit) But its still
going to be a big job (edit) economic factors have to come in to play at the
same time because the institution (edit) can’t do it alone. I think there is a
very big need for awareness that people have to take a risk to move forward and
also to take responsibility at the same time.
LINK: But Mr Abazi from BSPK is saying
that today’s protest may have been just a warm up for the real protests ahead.
The people are tired of talking, he says, they want results:
Cut 5: Tr 14(HA) It is better to tell
international and local institutions to draft their plans today and help the
workers and people of Kosovo before it becomes too late. They shouldn’t use the
current social calm. For ten years these people struggled for their rights, for
freedom, for independence…But it is certain that one day, the union and the
people will be very tired of all of this and will start seeking their rights on
the street.
LINK: That
comment from Hasan Abazi brings us to an end of this edition of UNMIK ON AIR.
Thanks for listening.