Good News for Kosovars Taking Swiss Pensions

Switzerland wants to pay pensions again in Kosovo. New Social Security Agreement signed in Pristina

For years, Mina Hasan's husband worked at construction sites in Switzerland. Shortly after his retirement, he died in Kosovo. But without a social security agreement, Mina Hasani will not be paid pension in Kosovo: She lives almost without money in the house her husband built for a joint pension. “These things with retirement had an impact on our lives: my children lost their chance to have a good education, because we didn't have more money for school”, says Mina Hasani.

In 1970, Kosovars replaced the Italians as foreign workers in Switzerland: For the former Socialist Yugoslavia, migration of poor people from southern Europe to Western Europe was an opportunity to maintain the social standard. For companies in Switzerland, Kosovars were welcome workers. The crisis and wars of the 1990s influenced youths to emigrate to flee their military service obligation.

Today, Kosovars are one of the largest immigrant groups in Switzerland. Many have become Swiss. But the debate over so - called false disabled had caused scepticism: In individual cases, there have been abuses of Swiss social system, writes Swiss state television “SRF”, passes Albinfo.ch. To that end, Swiss authorities have not been entrusted to the institutions of the new state of Kosovo, and in 2010 have concluded the social security agreement from the Yugoslav period.

As a result, Switzerland has no longer paid pensions for persons in Kosovo. Those who wanted to receive monthly retirement had to stay in Switzerland. This has potentially affected 50,000 pensioners who have not been able to return to their homes after retirement. There are even cases of serious category, such as that of Mina Hasani and her children, who do not receive their pension for widows and orphans.

Behind the scenes for the rights of Kosovo pensioners is National Adviser Barbara Gysy (PS/SG), which states: the new agreement has eliminated a major injustice”.

Swiss Ambassador Jean-Hubert Lebet and Kosovo Social Affairs Minister Skender Recica have signed the new social security agreement.
The state of Kosovo is being tested: the deal contains a clause of abuse, broadcast albinfo.ch. The focus is particularly civil-oriented in municipalities: For example, let your deaths be recorded at the right time. The minister of Social Affairs is aware of the responsibilities: “Agreement provides for a review of contributions and work experience. This rules out any possibility of abuse”.
widow Mina Hasani now has new hope. Her husband had paid more than thirty years through his salary in Swiss social insurance (contributes): “I only want the money they owe us. My husband gave up his life because he worked so hard in Switzerland” Now, new social security agreement must also be signed by both countries' parliaments