Gastronoms protest tomorrow: Similar spending while daily circulation has dropped 80%

More than protest, gastronoms call it symbolic action, where they will present the eight demands they are: Reprogramming loan installments, access facilities in financial means, support for salaries and rent for at least three months, VAT reductions to 8% temporarily, working hours extensions, postponement for tax payments statements for at least three months, support in electricity, water and waste spending, and support in compensation for damaged goods.

This action will join the gastronoms of Gjakova, who, like all their colleagues throughout the country, say they have been badly damaged during pandemic and new government measures.

The representative of Gjakova gastronomies, Epikad Hoxha, tells Kosovo that the situation is at the level it no longer holds, so it urgently needs to have reflection on the part of state authorities.

The “is symbolic, taking into account these measures that are taken against us, we think it has come to an end, and we as Gjakova gastronoms have joined other Kosovo gastronomers who will take part in protest in Pristina on Monday. There will be a symbolic protest where we will hand over the keys to the premises as a sign of protest. [... The reason for this symbolic one we've undertaken is to allow us to work after 9:00 p.m. that is. By 0 o'clock, but even at 0100 o'clock but to have access to financial means, to have reprojection of loan installments, to have access to various taxes, such as taxes, taxes, etc. ”, he says.

Tomorrow's protest wishes to join all of his colleagues and Jajo Krelesha from “Amici Bar” in Gjakova. According to him, this move, though delayed by gastronomics, wishes to influence the Government of Kosovo in order to review the measures.

He said that after meetings they have had with the Kosovo Gastronom Association it is decided that if there is no reflection after this symbolic action, more steps will be taken.

And even though it's retarded, I believe it's a very hit decision, I believe that the government after this protest will reflect and listen to our demands. It will be a symbolic protest as a first step then if our demands are not met there will be other steps. [...] I believe that each of Kosovo's gastronomies will join this protest that is symbolic but with enormous significance”, says Krleshi.

Gastronomers claim that about 4,000 businesses in this category are undergoing new measures and more than 14,000 employees, not to mention, the chain effects they have on other businesses closely related to the prosperity of gastronomy.

That the damage is also high in Gjakova gastronoms, says business representative Epilad Hoxha, who claims it is working on 10% of capacity. He stresses that government conditions such as table distance, disinfectation and other criteria have been met by gastronomers.

“Dations are huge considering that we are working with 10 %s of the capacities we can work on, these restrictions that are now well thought out by us, as all gastronomial establishments are meeting the measures Kosovo Government has requested. This decision to close down the premises is unintelligible”, he says.

Jajo Kreleshi of the “Amici Bar” says of KosovaPress that the gastronoms were the first to be closed and the last to be opened. According to him, daily circulation has dropped by 80% as it adds to the fact that fellow countrymen have not come as in the past years.

He stresses that during the summer months the biggest job is in the evening hours, when the government has already made the decision to gastronomy close. In spite of the decline in work, the expenses have remained the same, bringing gastronoms to bankruptcy.

“Time from 9:00 to 0500 this morning of the ban is very discriminating for us and has left us to be the chief guilty of spreading pandemic in Kosovo, which has no evidence of that. I believe it's a disgruntled and unfounded decision in any fact of the study. We feel strongly discriminated against by authorities who have made this decision without consulting businesses and in this case gastronomers. We closed the first of March 13th and opened it on June 1st, so I was closed first and last one opened... We have the same spending, staff, rent, municipal duties and tax expenses etc., and the daily circulation is about 70 to 80% less since it's usually worked at summertime, the day is quiet because of temperatures, this year we don't have the biggest flow of”, Krleshi said.

The symbolic action of Kosovo gastronomies before the Government and the Parliament of Kosovo will begin by 12:00, while locals will remain closed about an hour across Kosovo.