Kosovo workers paid less than minimum wage

Workers in Kosovo continue to face violations of their rights, even in terms of minimum wage. Serious economic conditions are forcing them to work even below pay, which is also the lowest in the region.

“over this year's 7th month, the Labour Inspectorate has identified 64 cases of those paid under the minimum wage”, said the written response by the Ministry of Social Management Labour.

The chairman of the Private Sector Workers Union, Yusuf Azemi, also raised this concern. It for Radio Kosovo has stated a major violation of workers' rights in this regard.

The field situation is a real horror. Many cases are paid below the minimum wage, at times that are simply willing to work for 100 euros just to keep the work relationship from breaking. In most cases the minimum wage workers receive as much as 140 euros, at approximately 110 euros, because this minimum wage removes taxes and various contributions. And this salary is actually symbolic, which we are often saying is a salary that neither leaves you to live nor die”, Azemi says.

The minimum wage in Kosovo is 130 euros for workers under 35, as well as 170 euros for those over 35. This turns out to be the lowest minimum wage in the region and Europe, as according to data released this month by Eurostat, where our country is not included, in July, the lowest minimum wage in the region has been in Albania 191 euros, while the highest in Turkey 446 euros. And in EU countries, the lowest minimum wage is in Bulgaria 261 euros, while the highest in Luxembourg -- nearly 2,000 euros.

Minister Recica, earlier in the year, has declared that he had handed over the government for approval the proposal to raise the minimum wage to 250 euros. In response to our radio, the Labour Ministry confirms that on January 11th of this year, the ministry has submitted the proposal to the government. Minister Recica believes that at one of the next meetings, the document with the proposal will be at the government's table for approval.