INT ERVIEW/ Krasniqi: No increase in employment in Kosovo, how does the government get those numbers?

“Price increases are real, and it's happening because we depend on import. For this growth to be smaller, we have asked the government to intervene, as have other countries. We've requested that VAT on low essential products to zero for three months in order to meet prices from citizens. After three months from 8 percent to 5 percent. The countries of the region have long made these interventions. Our government has done no action in this direction. Incomes would be reduced, but citizens would also be protected, and they would be able to eat bread, because first they must take care of this”, Krasniqi said.

The representative of a large number of companies in Kosovo has also commented on the 10 percent growth of the economy and the increase in the number of employees of 24 thousand who are being promoted by the Government, attributing their work to one year of their own.

Read the full interview:

Periscope: During a year of this government's work, are businesses better off or disabled. What has power done for business for a year?

Krasniqi: With the beginning of the pandemic, as in the whole world, a lot of things changed. A new challenge for survival began. All the time, we have supplied governments with business problems and response needs. The reality of demands from all governments, in this time period of pandemic, has been very slow. Very little compared with the need. Requests are now also symmetry for an immediate response. It has happened that the first time they had been earmarked from 170 euros per worker, without asking what his salary is, and could he survive with that money. And those of Mars are also beginning to be delivered in May, April, September. It's like someone promised you bread right now and it's given in a few days. He even gives meat to give no more. He's dead. The same is the response of governments to businesses. It's not responding immediately.

Periscope: Despite delays, have those tools been enough for businesses?

Krasniqi: Not only haven't been enough, but they haven't. We've requested that businesses be supported on credit for operational expenditures because they didn't have access to circulation as a result of closures, nor has it happened. We have demanded that no government action be taken for work and schedule restrictions without preliminary financial support. Business has been closed and no cents have been given. In last year, gastronomy was closed in September for a month. All workers, tenants have been left without support. The same has happened this year when the closure happened for two weeks. In accordance with the demands of this government, as the others are far away.

Periscope: What are the demands, what is the business facing today?

Krasniqi: He's facing a lot of what. The first with the global crisis as a result of the war in Ukraine. It's facing a lack of making and an increase in the price of endorm, because we have an estimated 90 percent import of 10 percent of exports. Not even one country in the world is more dependent on import.

Periscope: What's your suggestion in this case for Government?

Krasniqi: We have suggested to the government that the contracts they have with businesses, to review all public institutions due to prices. There are two shortages on this plan. The first is a lack of food supply material, and the second has an increase of over 100 percent of the price of products compared to contracts that have been marked as a result of the state of emergency. The situation must be analyzed here because it is not common. All states in Europe have reviewed the contracts, and we also demand that those connected in the month and last year be reviewed, or they will cut them off and there will be a lack of food supply and essential sectors, army, police, hospitals, prisons. So they can't be supplied with contracts they have already connected, as prices have flown.

Periscope: The prime minister said: “From September 2020 to September 2021 are 25 thousand and 200 jobs. Ten thousand are as a result of the Exchange Economics”. What is your comment on this?

Krasniqi: By January 2021, the Kosovo Statistics Ent has made no publication about the number of employees, which is no comment. Only the first three months of the year 2021 has to be the second, third, and fourth. Why it has not been done, the government should be asked, since the AK is part of the state and depends on the Ministry of Finance. So this entity always publishes employment reports, this time it hasn't?

Periscope: Where did the Prime Minister get the statistics?

Krasniqi: I don't know where they got this situation, because it would have to refer to an official institution, and that institution is AKS, all others are prejudices.

Periscope: From your daily communications with businesses, have you noticed that there are more employees?

Krasniqi: The situation on the ground shows that there may be a greater number of workers' legalisation, but not an increase in the number of workers. Due to the government's bids, those registered workers will take part for three months. If someone hires for a year, it could be her. So there are those who have done legalisation of the minimum wage workers, but it's not an increase in employment. We have not seen in the field that have increased employment.

Periscope: Governments but also the Central Bank have said that there is economic growth of about ten percent. Is there an increase like that, and if so, what indicators have affected?

Krasniqi: The comparison here has been made on the basis of the situation between 2020 and 2021. In 2020, there has been a severe decline in all countries of the world, and there has been a similar decline in us because of the closure of the pandemic. It has been estimated that some 600,000 jobs were lost in that year. Meanwhile, in 2021 there has been an opening, and this increase has crashed in 2020. If we make the comparison in 2019, or 2018, there was no increase. We would like to, but there wasn't.

Periscope: How do you see the state response in the face of price hikes? Should there be reaction, or should business and citizens face their own faces?

Krasniqi: Price increases are real, and it's happening because we depend on import. For this growth to be smaller, we have asked the government to intervene, as have other countries. We've requested that VAT on essential products be lowered to zero for three months in order to meet prices from citizens. After three months from 8 percent to 5 percent. The countries of the region have long made these interventions. Our government has done no action in this direction

Periscope: The government isn't doing this, because then the budget would have a few million less in the cash register at the end of the year?

Krasniqi: If incomes were reduced, but citizens would protect themselves, and they would be able to eat bread, because first they should take care of it. Other countries have done so too, and they have a few million less - the lives of citizens are more important than that. Once the budget is exploited and used for citizens. The VAT reduction means protection against citizens, not businesses, because they sell products as much as they can. This is, of course, where business is being damaged, as there is also a decline in prices.

InterviewedMentor Buzhala