Faithful Bislimi: Kosovo's minimum wage will be around 250 euros

In the study presentation, “General Perspective: The Economic Progress Agency for Kosovo” by the German Foundation's Office, Friedrich Ebert (FES), Bislim, said groups discussing the minimum wage must be experts rather than interest groups. According to him, trade unions can have no interest in the minimum wage, as there is no logic that one gets into union when he gets the minimum wage.

I understand concerns about minimum wage. The model you have drafted is almost 100% in compliance with government objectives. We also think that the minimum wage should be around the magic number -- 250 euros. For me it's very important to understand, two elements. The minimum wage should not be an obstacle to creating jobs for low productivity workers. So we need to make sure that it does not pass a certain threshold, as part of the average wage. Work market studies have shown that improvement is about 56 percent of the average wage. Once it becomes 56%, it harms people... And the second element that is very important to me is to make sure that the groups that discuss the minimum wage should be the ones that have the right to speak, should not be the interest groups that would be interested in excluding this particular group of workers from competition. And in this context, I don't understand the interest unions may have for minimum wage, because unions should represent people who are not paid minimum wages. So from this point of view, the minimum wage winners are competitors for unions. There is no logic that someone gets into union if he or she receives the minimum wage”, he said.

Part of this table was Germany's ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, who demanded progressive politics from executive. He also spoke of the role of trade unions in society, where he said their power in the modern economy has disappeared.

Germany's “Unions have been almost against the minimum wage, but parameters change because union power disappeared in the modern economy, as in the “gig” economy, the common economy, these people are not syndicised, and this year, the newly elected Social Democrat government will increase minimum wages in Germany by twenty percent, because it has shown that trade power is not so strong, because millions can compete or have good income in the labour market. I think it should be seen that every country has different situations, but I think it's important that the government needs income, without damaging the economy. I hope the government in Kosovo has the political will to fulfill progressive policy, which contains elements set forth in the study”, he stressed.

While, Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli said Kosovo needs policies promoting equality and social justice.

This is something that needs to change and design the sector by maintaining affordable energy security for citizens, especially for citizens in need, will be one of the main challenges facing the country. Now, to address all of this, shortcomings of our economic and social system. We need better governance. And this is something we as governments take very seriously, but on the other hand, we need better policies, promoting equality and social justice. And these policies should be based on evidence and they should be realistic so that they can truly address challenges and make life better for the citizens of Kosovo, so studies like these are so welcome and we really expect to work together to implement the” recommendations, Rizvanolli said.

And one of the FES study designers, Edison Yacurti, said more important than the minimum wage value is the parameters targeted with it.

The minimum wage and large measure are being discussed for minimum wage value. I think more important than being informed about the value is the parameters of what we're after with the minimum wage. The minimum wage is not something to be targeted by employers, but a salary to which you cannot fall. Some proposals we are hearing are very high proposals that if we look at the data for Kosovo's economy are not sustainable”, Jakurti said.

Among other things, at this table of discussion, the need was stressed, even lowering the unemployment rate in Kosovo. /