Concerned about jobs, Telekom workers go against sale

Milazim Alsheqi has been working in Kosovo Telecom for 40 years. He says he opposes the privatisation of this company, KTV reports. And if privatisation is only to take place, he adds that a deeper analysis is needed.

For Minister Valdrin Luka's offer of the financial package for workers who voluntarily leave their jobs after privatisation, Alshiqi has said it must be considered.

While, in KTV's interactive “” on Wednesday, Minister of Economic Development Valdrin Luka has said that a “paco financial attractiveness” is envisioned for workers who voluntarily want to leave their jobs in Telekom after privatisation.

Luka has explained the process leading to privatisation, which, according to him, will take place by year's end, while in the first six months the focus will be on restructuring.

This envisions staff and salary cuts.

While, from the Telecom Workers' Union, they have said they oppose privatisation and that it should not be mentioned at all until those who have brought this company to justice.

It was Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, who announced this week that they will privatise Kosovo Telekom after the government cabinet approved the Ministry of Economic Development's request.

Meanwhile, there are four international companies that are interested in privatising Kosovo Telecom. The loudest company in the race was Artillery One. Representatives of this company met with Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj during yesterday.

Only one of them is former Secretary of Interior and Congressman Ryan Zinke has been joined as Director of the company Artierry One, a few weeks ago. Zinke served as Navy Seals Commander, including during the Kosovo war, prior to a long career in public service, which peaked when he was appointed Interior Secretary of Trump Administration.

Prior to that position, Zinke was part of Montana Senate and later the United States House of Representatives, where he was a member of the Committee of Natural Resources and the Armed Services Committee.

Moreover, it is considered a successful entrepreneur with property management experience and business development with the consultancy company, the Davidite International.

In this case, Prime Minister Haradinaj's office does not announce exactly what it has discussed at the meeting. But in the statement he only writes that he announced the representatives of Artierry Onwee for the space Kosovo offers for foreign investment.

“With the largest economic growth in the region, reduced tax tariffs, fundamental reforms in rule of law and fiscal ones, as well as with the law for strategic investments, Kosovo has entered the map of attractive and safe countries for foreign investors”, Prime Minister Haradinaj said, adding that Kosovo has already turned into a reliable address for American investment”, the government's statement concluded. /Periscopi