Veterans seek to get involved in minimum wage growth, government silent

Besides trade unions, leaders of war associations say they will not stand hands cross if they are not included in the minimum wage for the money to rise in the coming months.

Although in the Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers have not indicated for Kosova Prees, whether they will be included in the growth of minimum wage and war veterans, economics professor Nagip Sklori, who demands that the minimum wage be 300-400 euros, says that these categories of war should be included in the increase of minimum wage.

As far as the minimum wage level is concerned, Finance, Labour and Transfers Minister Iron Murati wrote two days ago on how the government has proposed that the minimum wage be 264 euros/month, or 1.5 euros per hour, but according to him, this proposal has not received the necessary votes, because union representatives did not support it.

Former leader of the KLA War Veterans Organisation Faton Klinkaku, commenting on the law on changing the basic law on these categories, has said that until the final classification of the KLA war veteran's list, the pension scheme applies as envisioned by basic law.

And that classification hasn't even started in 4 years, because governments haven't wanted to do this, but I can't start now because the files are in the D.A., and they're in court. So let it not always become the subject of veterans, who by law 04/ L. 261, who is the only one in power, grows pension along with minimum wage. According to information, the Government of Kosovo is said to be preparing the change of law in power, not to raise pensions to veterans”, he has said of Kosovas.

Even KLA Family Association Chairman Xhavit Jashari has said it is unacceptable for them unless war categories salaries are raised.

If this government thinks these very important categories should be bypassed, the families of martyrs, the disabled, and the war veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army, neither institutions would have been created, neither would we have parliament nor government. So when these categories are in question, don't go shopping or fall to these levels, because without our consent, without our invitation, without being part of any change of these categories, of course, that for us it will be unacceptable and we'll actually take measures that, at the end of the day, even though many years have passed, the veteran's life should be dignified, and it should not be as if neither social assistance nor their sacrifice today Kosovo would not be free, he said.

Jashar pointed out that there will not be hands on the cross unless there be an increase in wages, but according to him, they will be gathered together as rulers and all branches to discuss their deeds.

“We are not satisfied with this government's approach to war-related categories. However, if that happens, we will not stand hands cross. After the KLA epic, we will consult with our structures, three organisations together, and if that happens then we will see what our reaction will be”, he said.

Economics faculty professor Nagip Skari has confirmed that the institutions, the current governments and the current government, respectively, have been delayed in the growth of the minimum wage in Kosovo, so with it, trade unions of all sectors make noise for the faster growth of the minimum wage.

In addition, Professor Skkerer says the government should also raise war veterans' salaries, as this is necessary as he stresses to have its minimum protective salary at the time when inflation is at the highest rate.

In the list published by the Kosovo Statistics Agency, based on the December 2021 situation, the number of beneficiaries from the pension scheme for war veterans was 36,804. The largest number of beneficiaries was in the Decani municipality with a total of 4,060, or 11% of the total.

The budget for this number of veterans of 36 thousand and 804 totals 75m and 80 thousand and 160 euros annually.

Although the number of veterans is on the move, for December 2021 alone, vehicles have been cleared from the budget of 6m and 256 thousand and 680 euros for 36 thousand and 804 war veterans.

Meanwhile, if veterans are included in the minimum wage of 170 euros to 250 euros, the budget should be added to this category 2m and 944 thousand and 320 euros per month or 35m euros 331 thousand and 840 euros per year.

The current minimum wage in the country is 130 euros by the age of 35 and 170 euros over that age. / KP