Coronavius left Kosovars without wages, businesses anxious to survive

Veton Alushay, is among 220 workers at the special hospital for physical therapy and rehabilitation “O NIX SPA“in Pec Bay, which has left work on March 13th.

Its suspension came after the Kosovo Government's decision to cut off the activity of some businesses, as a measure to prevent the spread of new choreography that causes COVID-19.

Alushaj, who has carried out the physical therapist's work, has received wages from the employer only for the days he worked in March, while expects the next salary to be received from the Kosovo Government.

“We are waiting for the Kosovo government to receive 170 euros for April and May. That amount, though not enough, will help us anyway. I don't think the owner has the chance to pay us, because it doesn't know how long this situation will last,” says Alushaji.

A Time of Undemia Labor

Jevdet Shoshi, owner of the special hospital for physical therapy and rehabilitation “O NIX SPA” in Banja, Pec, says it is impossible to pay workers' salaries for April and May.

He in a conversation for Radio Free Europe notes that after the government's decision to close some businesses, 518 visitors have left the facility, while 220 workers have been suspended.

According to him, the average salary in this company for a worker is 450 euros, or in general, wages for workers total 90 thousand euros a month. This amount, Shoshi says, is unaffordable to him at the time he shut down business activity and therefore has no financial revenues.

Businesses Anxiety to Survive

All employees are home. We are awaiting implementation of the Kosovo Government's decision on partitioning from 170 euros per month. We have the list of workers who were paid for March. We'll send that list back to” Shoshi said.

Many private businesses in Kosovo have suspended their activity, forcing workers to leave their jobs as well. All of this has happened after the Government of Kosovo has taken a series of measures to prevent the spread of the coronary.

To help businesses, through emergency packages, the Government of Kosovo has seen some measures as assistance in coping with the consequences of pandemic. Government officials say all workers who have lost their jobs after declaring the measures by the government will benefit from 170 euros for the next two months. The government has already earmarked over 170m euros for a stimulating package for overcoming the economic crisis as a result of COVID-19.

To take advantage of these measures, incumbent Deputy Minister of Finance and Transfers Agim Krasniqi tells Radio Free Europe that very soon there will be an open system (online) in the Kosovo Tax Administration for companies to hand over the list of workers.

The payments, Krasniqi says, will go to workers' bank accounts, not employers'.

The company must secure the employee list, the employee bank account and they will be transferred directly to the worker. The list sent by the company, verified by the Kosovo Tax Administration and the Kosovo Pension Savings Trust”, Krasniqi says.

Kosovo budget risks losing around 200m euros

The private sector accounts for the biggest employer in Kosovo. Over 220 thousand people work in this sector.

On the other hand, Kosovo's Afarism Oda considers that the amount of support for workers should be 220 euros and not 170 euros, as envisioned in the emergency package.