Kosovo poor, with many days off

If an official holiday in Kosovo falls on Saturday or Sunday, the holiday is held Monday.

All Kosovo institutions They have rested on Monday, when the country marks the Constitutional Day as well as the honour of Orthodox Easter, which were on Sunday.

Even next month, Kosovo celebrates Europe Day, which is a working day for citizens of European Union countries.

The law on official holidays has a total of 11 festivals and is generally respected by public institutions, as many private sector businesses have a working day.

Representatives of the union that workers and the business community urgently consider the need to address the Law for official holidays and the removal of tradition for weekend holidays to be carried for the following day of work.

Being one of the poorest countries in Europe, this tradition hinders the country's overall productivity, while creating an extra financial burden on the private sector.

Kosovo Independent Union Chairman(BSPK) Avni Aydin says the official holiday calendar is too busy. and perceives The private sector with the state.

“in the private sector workers always They're losers.. Since the Labour Law is not implemented until now Kolektive contract, which is signed by the Kosovo government”, says Aydin.

On the other hand, the American Economic Oda in Pristina has been seeking to reduce the number of holidays and not have holiday ties on weekends.

The executive director of the American Chamber of Economics in Kosovo (OEAK), Arian Zeka, tells Radio Free Europe that the large number of official holidays present a problem for businesses in Kosovo, as it enables businesses to be productive and increases production costs.

“Since 2013 we've been seeking the change of the Law for Official Holidays, to remove some of the official holidays, such as May 9th Europe Day, which is a separate paradox. Since for this date, holiday breaks are neither European Union member states nor in Kosovo, which does not even have EU candidate status. I think there's room for improvement, especially at religious holidays. Kosovo is a special state in this regard”, Zeka points out.

Even some citizens say there should be reductions of holiday days during the holidays.

Albina Berisha, who owns a shop in downtown Pristina, says she does not relax at all parties marking Kosovo.

I work today. I think the number of official holidays is huge. The large number of these holidays and their connection to working days hinders the work process. Even workers require more rest or payment for these days”, Berisha says.

Official Festivals writer in Kosovo, legally defined are: The New Year, the Independence Day of the Republic of Kosovo, the Constitutional Day of the Republic of Kosovo, the International Labour Day, Europe Day, the Great Bajrami, the Little Bayram, the Catholic Christmas, Orthodox Christmas, the Catholic Easter, and Orthodox Easter.

In addition to these festivals, eight more memorial days are scheduled in Kosovo under the Law. November 28th is marked as Albanian Flag Day and June 12th Peace Day, which for both days is fired. And the other six memorial holidays belong to the day that different communities living in Kosovo.