State again bans pensions on veterans working in regional public companies

Among them is Faruk Yusuf from Kline, employed in the KR “Environment”.

He shows that after the Supreme Court's decision, three pensions worth 102 euros have been executed, but for the past month the payment has not been reached on the 20th.

Faruk from the village of Bocsic, as a 20-year-old member of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

He has enjoyed the veteran's pension since the post-war, but after working at this company where he is still working, he was interrupted. For three months he was able to get it back, and now a month's payout has not been executed by the state. This was not previously announced.

I was April 1st of 1998 [Kosovo Liberation Army soldier]. I've been locked up, I've been in Albania a couple times for weapons. Even until the last moment the war was over, which was turned from the KLA to the KPC, I was then out of there with my own will. Even at the moment, I get into a firm, so I'm, at Environment, I work as a driver for about eight months. After eight months of work, we were interrupted once. Now that we've been out of November, we have 102 euros, 50%. November, December and January we got them, they stopped us now in February. I don't know why it's what they stopped for, but we don't get it from”, Yusuf tells us about Kosovas.

The same has happened with fellow fighters, who, as Joseph shows, all those who work in public companies, are self-financed.

I don't know how they could make that decision, but when it is, the law has passed that kind of law, I don't know now how he can break these. We're not the only one, but there are many others. There's a lot of work I don't get. But now, we are expecting the help of those in Pristina there”, he adds.

The organisation of the Kosovo Liberation Army Veterans' War (OVL-UÇK) has accepted many complaints concerning the situation, says the organisation's deputy chairman, Gazmend Syla.

The Supreme Court has ruled for the right of veteran warrior with the joy of 50% of the veteran's pension, for all of those veterans working in the private sector. This decision has begun to apply for two to three months. And in this last month, we've got a lot of fellow fighters who told us about the 20th year of the veterans' pensions, called us on the phone, told us they didn't get their tools through their accounts this month. That's how we're interested in what category he hasn't gotten out of, that's this pension. We've asked other veterans some who work both in construction and in private businesses, they've been okay. We've learned that this 50% pension of veterans who work in public companies is, for example, like if it's cleaning, whether it's hygiene or water. So that's why you've been stopped by”, your eye indicates.

Retirement for this category, Syla considers it to be injustice.

“We are a little surprised because these function [the regional public companies] with self-finance. It means they don't get it here, they don't get it from the state budget. It means, it doesn't hurt the state budget even though they gave 50% of retirement to these fellow fighters. Therefore, it is an unfair one already occurring for the second time only those veterans who work at these” companies, he adds.

The eye calls on these veterans to address the courts, for which Faruk Jusuf says he is willing to follow the legal course.

This contribution doesn't count, because I'm here, but we could have been dead. For those of us who are fortunate, we have saved, it is something else. God has helped us. We're expecting some help right now from somewhere”, he says.

In response to Kosovo, the Ministry of Labour, Family and Freedom War Values says they are handling these cases as each decision is made in line with legal provisions.

We inform you that the payment of veterans' pensions is regulated in line with legislation in force, and verification through ATK. In cases where the war veteran's pension beneficiaries are employed and realised profits from public companies, relevant institutions do verify the data from the official system through ATK. The competent institutions are handling the relevant cases, and each decision is taken in line with the legal provisions in force. Individuals can turn to appropriate offices for more detailed information on the matter. The ministry has initiated changes in the Law, currently remaining in force of the current” laws, it says.

Naim Jakaj from the Kosovo Institute for Justice (IKD) considers the fact that employees in the public sector cannot enjoy the veteran's pension.

According to the Law on Veterians, it is known that veterans working in the private sector are not barred from receiving a pension. Meanwhile, those employed in the public sector, including in the water sector, waste or whatever else is public enterprise are prohibited from giving this pension. Such a thing as IKD before, but even now we're re-inflaming that it's an application or misinterpretation of the Law for the Veterians, and in this way it would have to change such law”, he concludes.

Faruk Yusufi from Kline was part of the 132 “Myrst Zeneli” and then at that “Agim Zeneli”.

In October of last year, the Supreme Court has abolished an administrative directive article urging KLA veterans to present evidence that they were not in working relations to take advantage of the pension. They have the right to enjoy 50 percent of the war veteran's pension.