Women in Kosovo discriminated against even in salaries

Women in Kosovo, while struggling to secure a job, despite educational qualifications and work experience, are paid less than their male colleagues, say workers' representatives.

This phenomenon applies to the private and public sector and requires special treatment, says Haxhi Arifi, chairman of the Union of Independent Trade Union of Kosovo, adding that in this way the female gender is being discriminated against, respectively, it is being reduced to seek work.

It is true that they are discriminated against in the labour market, such as lower wages, holidays, employment, and even participation in institutions. We have repeatedly requested from competent institutions that the position of the woman should be present as it should be by law and not be discriminated against”, Arifi says.

In Kosovo women represent half the general population, but despite that, in the labour market, according to official figures, only 12 percent of them work. They also consider that the main barrier remains low pay rates, but also lower wages for men.

Albana has been working in the private sector for two years. She says the company has the same position as a male colleague, but she's convinced that, he pays more.

I and a colleague have the same job, but he pays more. I don't know why”, Albana says.

Haxhi Arifi calls it meaningless that women are paid less than men and this issue, he says, BSPK has considered it even at higher levels.

We have raised this issue, where we have participated as BSPK. A similar issue has been raised in the Social Economic Council. Why should women be discriminated against, since they finish the same work and I can say perhaps even more carefully than men. Why discriminate in wages, women get paid less, and the opposite gender is more advanced?

Lumije Aydin from the Kosovo Business Alliance is a member of the Economic-Social Council, this council consisting of BSPK, the business community and the government.

It for Radio Free Europe says this issue has been discussed in this council, but because of lack of research, it has not been addressed properly.

“bags are still not addressing complaints to protect themselves. That is what has happened with a pause. Disadversation of complaints occurs because of fears that they might lose their jobs”, Aydin says.

On the other hand, in a report published by the Institute “Riinvest”, 54 percent of the women employed are reportedly employed in the private sector and 41 percent in the public sector.

This report says that women employed in the public sector believe in 78 percent of cases that they are paid the same amount as men for the same job and 8 percent do not believe they are paid equally.

But in the private sector, only 51 percent of women believe that they are paid the same as men in the same position, while 19 percent are sure that men are paid more for the same job.

Representatives of civil society, however, consider that the low number of employed women have paid less for the same position and working schedule. /Rel/Telegraphy/