Strikes and protests warning Berisha: More than 1,200 nurses are expected to leave Kosovo this year

Progress Berisha, chairman of the QKUK Health Workers Union, has said “Index” that the payments for the night's exchange for nurses have increased for only two euros and that the payment gap between doctors and nurses is enormous.

We are unhappy because low prices that were offered to the SHSKUK and the Ministry of Health, for the night work of nurses. The payments for night shifts have increased by only 2 euros. From 18 euros to 20 euros to 22 euros for SKKUK nurses working in shifts. The difference with doctor's payments is huge. A doctor with the new salary Law will be paid 288 euros for 24 hours of work on Saturday, which occurs 14 times more than a nurse. I don't know based on what, they made these calculations. 22 euros is paid to nurses during the custody Saturday, meanwhile, the doctor is paid 288 doctors”, he said.

While he says they are pending custody payment lists because they are unclear how much will be paid correctly and then will come up with a decision on steps he will take, not excluding strikes and protests.

We'll wait for lists to look right. We're calculating with the Federation and we're going out with a proposal. We'll meet with the Minister and we'll clear this up. If there is no reflection we will start with protests, but normal always radicalising the measures, according to the Law for Protests and strikes”, he said.

And in view of all of this, low wages and maintenance payments over the days of the week and weekends, he says the discontent of nurses is enormous and that this has caused the number of those who want to release Kosovo to rise.

The co-editor's “10 euro shift of night 22 euros has disappointed many nurses. At the meeting we held with nurses, there were radical demands and boycotting work. As for leaving this year, at least 1,200 nurses are expected to leave. According to information we have in preparation for over 3 thousand nurses, since some colleges and agencies have agreements with German clinics for sending nurses to hire there. Last year we had about 700 nurses leaving the country. Meanwhile this year, this number is expected to double and is expected to be over 1200. Meanwhile, until now some 200 nurses have abandoned the country in 2023”, he said.