Kosovo Telecom Stops Restructuring, Economy Ministry Urged Explaination

The restructuring process in Kosovo's Telekom has run into new obstacles, as the economy ministry has requested additional clarifications concerning this process. Burbuke Hannah, chief executive chief of Telekom, who had received the mandate with great promises of reform, found herself facing major challenges to implement this restructuring. Under the plan originally approved by the Board of Directors, the elimination of ten positions of directors and 25 deputy directors was envisioned. However, the process, expected to be completed by the end of 2022, did not happen. It has been fully halted for more than a month and a half, while it is expected that the Ministry of Economy will provide further clarifications and instructions following clarifications it would receive from the company. Meanwhile, Telekom has insisted that restructuring has not been halted, but recent facts speak differently.

With the new organisational structure, which the Board of Directors in principle had accepted, the abolition of many positions is envisioned.

Democracy. com has learned that the process has been halted for about a month and a half, under an order from the Ministry of Economy, which has asked for some additional clarifications from Telekom.

The “appears to have stopped restructuring positions in Kosovo Telecom, as the economy ministry has demanded some clarification. Can you tell us what clarifications you've requested from Telekom and when the restructuring process will be restored? The economy ministry has not yet answered this question, which has been addressed 10 May.

From Telekom, they have said the restructuring process has not been halted.

“You announce that the process of internal restructuring of Kosovo Telecom has not stopped, but we are in the process of completing procedures for published contests, as well as preparing relevant documentation for continuing new publications as planned. The process will continue with the completion (preparation) of relevant documents for publishing” contests, Fadil Lepaja, U.D., said. Director of Relations with the Public in Kosovo Telecom.

However, the facts speak differently from what Kosovo Telekom declares.

From March 15th, 2024, there has been no competition at this company.

The latest competition has been for 5 types of positions in the Marketing Directorate and Sales. Thus, during this year there have been contests announced on January 17, February 14, February 23, March 1, March 8, March 15.

Kosovo Telekom's chief chief has been elected in December 2022, while directorates of directors in June 2023. By June 2023, there have been constant competitions for other positions, going according to hierarchy. Each month, there have been contests from June 2023 to March 15, 2024.

Kosovo's Media Office of Telekom had indicated that, according to the resulting organisational scheme, at the company's highest managerial level, there have been 14 directors/departments that have reported directly to the chief executive chief. All these units have reportedly been led by relevant directors and, in most of them, by two and more deputy directors. In addition, it is noted that the Office of the Chief Executive Chief has been of many high positions of advisers, managers and senior officials. According to the new organisational structure, the office for the media has indicated that the number of directorates/departments located on the first managerial level will be reduced to the 4 directors as well as the Office of the Executive Chief, which stresses that it will be obviously optimised in terms of composition, but without the violation of functionality.

Among other things, the new organisational structure points out that there are no three directors at all, while directors/departations and their necessary functions will not be erased, but will be placed in relevant directors, according to the new organisational scheme.

Restructuring envisions, such as before, the elimination of unclear, unnecessary or multiple jobs at the company. /Democracy. com