In Kosovo unemployment reaches 44%, BSPK urges minimum wage increase

BSPK's chairman also spoke of failing to raise the minimum wage from the Kurti Government for its dismissal by the Kosovo Privatisation Agency Board(AKP) and the salary he has received over 2 thousand euros in the AKP.

I consider that the social problem of the workers is quite pronounced and unemployment is equally pronounced, over 34 per cent, but we can say it's even more than 40 per cent, because during the pandemic workers have lost jobs. And unfortunately, this has affected increasing poverty or social. B The SPK is active, but with paperwork and demand... If it was 34 per cent today, it's 44 per cent, so in the pandemic 10 per cent of workers have lost their jobs”, Aydin points out.

On the minimum wage issue, BSPK chairman Aydin says that unfortunately this government has not yet fulfilled the promise of setting up this salary. BSPK's leader is seeking both government Kurti and recognition of the work stage for all who left their jobs during the 1990s.

I consider that the minimum wage should be 300 euros, even though we require 350 euros. We understand the government that problems cannot solve overnight, but we consider the minimum wage to be 300 euros. Therefore, that salary, which is promised to be 250 euros, has not yet begun, unfortunately we are waiting. We are also waiting for a meeting with Prime Minister Kurti to discuss some problems... Have you met Kurt yet? Unfortunately not, even though I've made a request for a meeting to take a first step towards fixing the workers' case or starting with pension schemes. I ask no more than to recognize the experience of working that by enabling workers to achieve that 15-year-old, which today is an obstacle to realising full pension”, Aydin says.

The BSPK's head in an interview for KosovaPress has also commented on Kosovo's government and Assembly decision to sack the AKP Board, where he has been its director. He says there have been no abuses by that Bord, though he argues his high salary of two thousand and 200 euros a month.

I consider that during my term there were no legal or corrupt proceedings... We inherited our wages, and in the past, it was the same... The responsibility the board has had, the wages have been reasonable because for a mistake there may be prison punishment. That's why we're saying that he had value compared with responsibilities... I've had 2 grand and 200 euros as board director. But even the responsibility has been, a mistake he made may have been able to go to prison. However, I inherited the salary from”, he says.

However, he says the Board's dismissal will neglect the division of 20 per cent of workers. According to Aydin, another problem is that there are 21 thousand subjects expected to be reviewed at the Special Court of Oda. B The SPK also requests from the government the signature of the Kolective contract, as according to Aydin it is ready. Aydin, who has reached retirement age on September 9th of 2019, says he has not violated any law in carrying out his post at BSPK and AKP. Aydin warns that the BSPK congress for the election of the new chairman will be held on 2 October.

I don't plan on running, leaving space for others... I've been retired for a year, but I've been in charge. So our statute mentioned a case that we're a Su-generis, undefined. But regardless of the law that it says, we are paid on our own contributions or means. So the unionist may also be 80 years old, but he must be capable of doing things. There must also be a reputation that fights him over the affairs of the rights of the workers, which is human in spirit and that does not violate the” Law, Aydin declares.

President Aydini's predecessor was Haxhi Arifi, where he too has exercised his retirement mandate.