Visa liberalisation: Will there be a crisis after January 1st in Kosovo's labour market?

In search of workers, some of them have begun employing foreign workers, who often come from distant countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, but their stay in Kosovo, according to experts, is temporary and without long-term prospects.

The situation has become even more complicated with the fact that many of these workers see Kosovo as a crossing point to reach European countries, creating a lack of sustainability in the workforce.

Visar Demolli, Executive Director of the Kosovo Hotel and Tourism House (OHTK) in an interview for Telegrafi, has said the absence of workers in Kosovo will be observed after January 15th.

We've been visiting businesses for four months. This crisis has already begun, but since January, we have been told since January 15th, that the beginning of January few and the expensive tickets and enjoy us with families, only to be expected to have been a crisis. So now, as long as that crisis lasts, are we going to face it for years, or the first five months, it's left to be seen. But the crisis will have 100 percent, I'm talking about our sector. Also, we've just started seeing many restaurants, cafes, when you see the example of the job, you see the letter being rented. As far as the other calls for workers, there's no bar that requires”, he said.

As for the employment of foreign workers, Demolli said they see Kosovo more as a country to infiltrate Europe rather than work and operate here.

It is a problem that we now have some examples of nameless businesses, workers from Pakistan, Zimbabwe and come and make Kosovo a springboard, as a transit state. So, from here easy to escape to Europe, I think that's not the solution, that they have no stability they are in doubt of getting out of work whenever the opportunity is given to”, he confirmed.

Demolli stressed that employers in Kosovo must offer better conditions for workers so they do not leave the country.

Normale is in every state of Europe that is a normal state, a more dignified salary. A two-day break, not one day they take or take it, is the weekly holiday just as it takes two days, the annual holiday. Medical vacation. Health insurance, as there are serious risks in our work. So we often hear that cooks don't burn during roasting, not something.
I think that in Kosovo, for a waiter or a banker, I was talking a little bit about a simpler order, not the kitchens that have bigger salaries. So a waitress with 600 and 700 euros would be a problem with finding”, he stressed.

In the interview, Demolli said that in the near future, even 800 and 900 will be paid because it will be difficult to find workers, as he put it, everyone has only one life and wants to live better Kosovo, or abroad.

Otherwise, citizens of the Republic of Kosovo on 1 January will move without having to be equipped with visas to enter any European Union state.

To enter the Schengen area after January 1st, 2024, it is important that you have enough passport.

The passport should be valid for at least three months after the planned Schengen area leaving date.

For example, if you plan to enter the Schengen area on March 1st, 2024 and declare to the border police that you will stay until March 15th, 2024 then your passport should be valid at least until June 15th, 2024 so three months after the scheduled date of return”, Kosovo institutions have announced.

On April 18th of this year, the European Parliament approved the decision for Kosovo citizens to move free to EU countries from January 1st to 2024.