KDS has an appeal to Government and Parliament following Valon Berisha's death at work

The Social Justice Coalition has reacted after worker Valon Berisha's death at his workplace in Fushe-Kosovo.

The case occurred yesterday at 7:30 a.m., where the Drenas victim had fallen from the third floor of the building where he was working.

In this regard, The KDS in response writes that as a result of the country's low standard of living, high unemployment, and extreme poverty, in addition to being among the drivers that citizens accept unconditional jobs, they are also among the main factors that the bereaved are forced to accept enormous amounts of money, almost charitable in exchange for the lives of their lost families.

The Coalition for Social Justice has called for the prime minister, Kosovo's chief parliament and deputies to address with urgency the phenomenon of unusual deaths in the workplace, calling surveillance, implementation and prosecution to responsibility.

Here's the full reaction.

Honored Prime Minister, Prime Minister and MP of the Republic of Kosovo,

We, the undersigned, are addressing this letter to public protest in the case of Valon Berisha's death, from the village of Vasileva, a construction worker who is the next victim of job security. We, members of the Coalition, understand that accidents in the workplace occur everywhere, even in the most advanced states in terms of rule of law. But unlike what is happening in other countries, the case of the last victim in Fushe Kosovo, as well as of many other victims, is the direct consequence of failure to implement minimum European working standards, which the laws of the Republic of Kosovo also clearly sanction.

Over the past five years alone, about 90 citizens, family holders, have lost their lives at their jobs in the construction sector. Of these deaths, only 5 cases in the past year, without counting other cases, more than 15 children have been orphaned, since their families have remained to continue their lives under extremely serious economic conditions. As a result of the country's low standard of living, high unemployment, and extreme poverty, in addition to being among the drivers who accept unconditional jobs, they are also among the main factors that the bereaved are forced to accept enormous amounts of money, almost charity in exchange for the lives of their lost families.

Disturbing continues to remain the institutional and public silence over these tragic cases, which severely strike the lives of their citizens and families. Since these cases are being run only as daily news in sections Black chronics in local media, without any continuous merit development, the further flow of death in the workplace remains unknown to the public. Almost nowhere can a summary report be found on cases in general, while official reports are flawed in numbers, unaccomplished with data about companies, or even concrete facts about prosecution of irresponsible employers.

The Coalition for Social Justice calls on the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo to address with urgency the phenomenon of not rare deaths in the workplace, calling surveillance, implementation and prosecution to responsibility. As a result, to assure the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo that these cases are not happening due to failure to implement legislation in force or to address these cases not be left under the will of employers and judges. Workers in the Republic of Kosovo should be guaranteed that their workplace will not return to death.

The Social Justice Coalition was founded in 2015, with a particular purpose to influence and advance social justice in Kosovo. 

Kosovar Initiative for Stability IKS,