(By Hysni Recica)
Hello and welcome to
UNMIK on air with Sputnik Kilambi and Martin Redi
The process of
privatizing the former Socially Owned Enterprises is said to be running
smoothly - the second round has just finished. Privatization,
according to Kosovo’s economic advisors, will make companies more productive,
better managed by the new owners and generate more revenues.
However, there is concern among
workers, many fear they will lose their jobs. One consolation is that they will
be entitled to 20 % of the sum the company is sold for.
But, this is not all. They can
also apply to buy their company, like the workers of Kosovaplast, one of the 18
SOE’s up for sale in the last round of privatization. This Styrofoam producing
plant in Hani I Elezit was one of the most sought-after companies with several
individuals and cooperatives interested.
Zelqif Berisha: In all
points of Kosovo our representatives are dealing with oil derivatives and
construction material. If we win the bid we will add some more articles. Anyway
we are working with cement: no. 1 article is cement in our depot and the bricks
and Styrofoam production. Together with the Kosovaplast products it will be
completely like a bouquet.
Kosova is in construction. There
will be big sales especially over the next 10 years. We will be ready mostly to
produce in Kosovo instead of importing goods.
But among Berisha’s fellow bidders
were the employees of the Kosovaplast factory. They hoped to make the winning
bid and keep the company out of the hands of outsiders. Gafur Luri, who represented the workers was
beside himself with excitement while waiting for the winning bidder to be
announced.
Gafur Luri: This
organization has more than 98 workers. If someone else buys the factory it is
to be expected and it will happen for sure, that the number of workers will be
decreased, only 30 of them maybe can stay. That’s why we were obliged to
participate and collect money to buy the factory.
The fear of losing their
jobs was one reason to try and buy their factory back. However, the workers
from this SOE also wanted to safeguard the investments they have made in it
with their own money, Gafur Luri, again.
Gafur Luri: I would
like to stress that all workers here participated in ‘cash money’ to build this
factory. And at this moment we are in the part of the factory, which was
recently built. It is equipped with new machines so I think that all this
effort will not be lost.’
Zelqif Berisha put
careful thought into his bid for the company. Obviously convinced of his
chances of winning, he assured the workers of his good intentions.
Zelqif Berisha: We are
thinking of keeping the same name of the company - Kosovaplast. This is what
the workers want. I repeat it doesn’t matter who will win. We will keep the
workers.
For me it is like a
lottery. I need to guess the price. It would be better to have an open tender
then we who are ready to work I believe will pay more than others. But this
system is good. It is not corrupted. It does need some changes. They should
know that people who are bidding do so with clean money. And people who bid on
a company should already have experience in that field.
Finally the long awaited moment -
Zelqif Berisha’s envelope and the one from the workers of Kosovaplast are about
to be opened.
Zelqif Berisha: We won
and we are very happy. We knew how to lead the organization in the past, we
will know how to lead it in the future, too.
Zelqif Berisha is stoic
about his defeat It is not the end of the world, he says, I cant help sharing
their joy.
Zelqif Berisha: Although
we were competing, we are grateful and happy that the workers of the factory
won. I personally wish them success in the future. There are another 700
factories on sale, we will apply and hope we will win a tender.
While Gafur Luri and his
fellow colleagues – all new business owners - went home to celebrate, Zelqif
stayed behind to see if his second bid placed on another company was more
successful.
That does it for this
edition of UNMIK ON AIR. Thanks for listening.