KDI publishes workers' rights recommendations

The Democratic Institute of Kosovo has compiled a list of recommendations after increasing the number of workers' deaths, mainly in the high-building sector.

Florent Spahija from KDI has stressed that nearly every month in Kosovo, new cases of job loss are reported, mainly in the construction sector.

He has informed that even in KDI nearly every day, calls are accepted by citizens complaining of violations of their rights at work mainly in the private sector, but without excluding even the public, who has said it would have to be an example of respect for workers' rights from the labour relationship.

“Fenomeni of workplace deaths has marked increases in recent years, due to increased construction momentum in every part of Kosovo and the possibility to be employed in this sector due to the sector's demand for unqualified workforce. Many workers are involved in the construction sector, even in the poor working conditions and job insecurity that are now ruling in this sector, especially”, Spahija has said.

KDI has compiled a list of recommendations concerning the problem of worker discrimination and the lack of respect for workers' rights:

- Every unqualified employee working a trade profession should be forced to qualify and receive a certificate of qualification from the Employment Agency;

-The Kosovo Assembly in co-operation with the Employment Agency and the Labour and Social Management Ministry and the Labour Inspectorate worked on harmonising local legislation with that of the European Union;

-The Kosovo Assembly and the Government of Kosovo/The Ministry of Labour and Social Management through the budget constantly envisions increasing the number of labour inspectors and their salaries;

-Work inspection increases the number of field inspections;

-The Labour Inspector continued with the awareness campaign on workers' rights and possible violations for employers and workers;

-Work inspection should provide opportunities for workers to file their complaints anonymously and the same complaints to be taken into account.

-Work inspection should increase the level of transparency by making public all decisions on the web;

-The Ministry of Labour and Social Management with the help of the Economic Odas should create mechanisms that force private companies to have union organizations;

-The government of Kosovo along with the labour unions but also the private sector should compile the collective contract and sign it;

- Courts have to stick to legal terms and work issues should be handled with efficiency and priority.