Kosovo average salary fails to meet citizens' needs

Within four years, the average gross salary in Kosovo, according to the latest data from the Kosovo Statistics Agency (ASK), has scored 20 percent increase.

In 2012, the average gross salary in Kosovo (including public, private and public sector wages), according to the AKS, was 431 euros, until 2016 was 519 euros, which represents an increase of 88 euros.

The highest wage rate in Kosovo was in the public enterprise sector, until with lower salaries was the private sector.

The average gross public sector in 2012 was 407 euros, until 525 euros in 2016, rising for 118. The private sector, in 2012, had an average gross salary of 367 euros, while in 2016 it had 371 euros, which increased by only 4 euros”, says the Kosovo Statistics Agency's data.

Citizens surveyed by Radio Free Europe say the salaries they receive do not meet their families' needs.

Idriz Ahmeti says that with monthly revenues of about 400 euros as much as he receives, he fails to meet the needs of his four-member family.

With the salary I get, I can't fill my family's needs. Prices are high until the needs of a family are large. With this pay, it is impossible to reach out until the end of the month”, he says.

Safet Mayzin similarly says:

With the pay I get, which I only carry myself, I can't meet all the needs of a person. Prices on the Kosovo market are high”.

Meanwhile, even Naim Gashi, economic affairs expert, tells Radio Free Europe that the average salary of 500 euros is insufficient for the standard of citizens in Kosovo.

“As far as the consumer basket is concerned, wage growth should go proportionally to the inflation that is in Kosovo and the price of goods and services that are on the Kosovo market. The average salary over 500 euros is not enough for the living standards of Kosovo citizens for the fact that 40 per cent of goods in Kosovo are imported from the European Union are EU prices, while Kosovo's salaries are unaffordable for such prices”, Gashi estimates.

He says Kosovo needs an even greater boost in economic development, as, according to Gashi, only through long-term economic growth can pay rates, national revenues in general, gross domestic product and improve trade balance.

If all of this happens, then the salaries in Kosovo will automatically increase and the living standard of citizens” improve, Gashi says.

Representatives of businesses in Kosovo say that on the basis of their research, the average salary in Kosovo has increased officials' high wages in Kosovo institutions, which receive as much as 5,000 euros.

Kosovo Business Alliance Chairman Agim Sahini says in Kosovo there are a considerable number of workers who receive salaries under 200 euros.

According to him, the average salary of over 500 euros could be real, but not reasonable.

If some budget organisations that have large salaries and workers who receive salaries less than 229 euros on average are involved, we also have over 60 thousand people who receive minimum wages of 130 or 170 euros, this average salary of over 500 euros is actual but not reasonable”, Sahin says.

The average gross salary in Kosovo from nine countries, which have been taken as samples (Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova), Kosovo is placed fourth in the salary height.

The highest average gross salary is in Montenegro at 751 euros, while the lowest is in Moldova at 271 euros.