State without official data on economic damage, job loss

MPs from the Kosovo Parliament and economic experts have blamed the AKS, which is within the framework of the Prime Minister's Office that has not yet produced any reports on lost jobs and the number of bankrupt businesses.

The Independent Union of Private Sectors says that by the end of this year the number of those who lose their jobs will reach 100,000.

MP from the Vetevendosje Movement, Iron Murati, says the Government and the Kosovo Statistics Agency are the “lost in this” situation.

Commission for Business and Transfer, Iron Murati, chairman of the Commission, tells Kosova Preris that it remains difficult to ensure statistics on unemployment in the pandemic for economic damages.

“We like the Commission (for the Board) and as deputies we've constantly asked for, even though it has become problematic to ask for something from the executive, which is seeing that the Socie has an idea what she's doing. They're looking for them, they're clearly not aware of what they're doing, they don't know how they're doing. (ASK) is lost in this” situation, Murati says.

And the deputy from AAK, Gazmend Abrashi, said that despite the lack of official statistics, the number of those left without jobs is around 400,000, according to him that is constantly growing.

MP Abrashi says there is no official data from the AKS on unemployment and damages in the economy.

I don't have accurate knowledge of the Statistics Agency and numbers, but it's an unofficial note that is about 35-40 thousand jobs that have been lost. The potential trend of job loss is even greater. For this very reason, fundamental and vital that the Financial Recovery Bill be voted”, Abrashi stressed.

Economics acquaintance Safet Gerjaliu says the lack of official data on damages to the economy and employment proves they lack individual and institutional responsibility.

Former OEK leader Gerjaliu has said the AK is a politicised institution.

Whatever request is directed at this agency really faces in deaf ears, because much more accounts for wages than to work. Much more is estimated on how to enjoy life in public administration than to contribute. It is definitely seen that in Kosovo, statistics produce inaccurate results and wrong data. We need accurate data, but that's why we have to depoliticize these agencies. It takes innovation, digitization and, above all the angles that have knowledge and not just party and political meritocracy. Because it's really dangerous this phenomenon of politicisation and the deployment of politicised people and without any knowledge of different positions, in particular in public administration. This is evidenced by the fact that today Kosovo is at the most critical economic point, at the most critical point of social stability, at the most important integration point, and that's the cost Kosovo is paying with a strain and with a burial of perspective and future”, Gerjaliu said.

The business community and the Private Sector Union have remained the only sources for economic damage data caused by the pandemic now for nine months.

Independent Private Sector Union Chairman Jusuf Azemi tells Kosovo Press that by the end of the year, up to 100,000 jobs in the private sector are expected to be eliminated due to the pandemic.

Azem has blamed Government and the Parliament that are not supporting the private sector to preserve jobs.

“Based on statistics marking, by the New Year will reach over 100,000 workers fired. Of them employees with contracts and no contracts. An institution for accurate figures is us, because in the first moment the workers fired the first address have the union. Some 30 per cent of all workers in the private sector will lose their jobs. Unfortunately, pandemic has affected even the most developed countries. [...] There have been budgetary means, but there has been no will by parliamentarians and government officials to be closer to the moment set at business”, Azemi points out.

On Trust, based on official data, the number of contributors is 6 thousand less in the pandemic compared to the previous year.