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14 08 2008 This Thursday’s "Life in Kosovo" current affairs show took a close look at trade unions in Kosovo, and workers’ rights.
The show asked whether there are any real trade unions
in Kosovo that protect the rights of workers, or they are all serving political
interests. It asks how does one move from being a protector of workers’
interests to being a protector of the government’s interests? Why aren’t the
laws that directly affect Kosovar workers being
implemented?
To discuss these issues and more in the studio
were:
Gjergj Dedaj – Deputy Minister of Work and Social Well
Being;
Haxhi Arifi – President of the Kosovo Union of
Independent Syndicates, KUIS;
Bahri Shabani – outgoing President of KUIS, and about to
become President of the Kosovo Confederation of Free Trade
Unions;
Ibrahim Rexhepi – Editor-in-chief of the daily
“Lajm”
Shabani started the debate by telling the panellists
that he is in the process of leaving his job as President of KUIS.
“I can make the difference between the trade union and
the government, however in this case I will defend the government because I am
representing the Kosovo Confederation of Free Syndicates,’’ he
said.
Shabani added that there was a lot of speculation over
his job and salary. “I have worked for four years without a salary, and these
past four months I have been paid,” he explained.
Rexhepi noted that the problems that trade unions are
confronting are always the same – that is one of ``mine or your interests’’. He
claimed that trade unions are not working to protect the rights of the workers.
“Lawyers are the only people that protect the rights of the workers, because
they take money” he noted.
The debate heated up, and panellists discussed the
problems that trade unions have had, as well as the government’s own interests
vis-à-vis the unions.
Arifi explained how trade unions work now and with whom
they strike a partnership. “Of course we are in partnership with the government”
he said, pointing out that there is always a common interest between syndicates
and government.
Dedaj said that these kind of problems happened before
independence and the formation of the new government. “The new government is
very transparent, it has managed all the situations from the beginning in the
most brilliant way” he stressed, adding that some of the positions they have had
to take is due to the limited budget.
“I am against the laws that directly affect Kosovar
workers,” Arifi said, pointing out that Kosovo will be in chaos until the
government shows a serious interest in the conditions of workers.
Rexhepi interrupted Arifi. “The government should build
priorities, starting from tax,” he said emphasizing that just over 140 thousand
people pay taxes, whereas there are more than 300 thousand people working in all
of Kosovo. In addition there are not adequate laws protecting workers, he said.
Arifi agreed with Rexhepi. “Who looses in the case when
someone doesn’t pay tax? This damages the government, workers and others,” he
said.
Dedaj pointed out that the government can produce laws
by the kilogramme, if there is a point. “If we have the laws, we should
implement them,” he said, adding that it’s very easy doing marketing by passing
new laws, but it is not easy to start doing things when Kosovo’s budget is so
small.
Rexhepi stressed that this is just the beginning. Kosovo
will confront many more serious issues, he said. “If we will not change some of
the common serious problems here in Kosovo, one day people will not have bread
to eat,” he added.
Dedaj said that the new government has started to look
at the issue of workers’ rights, and while he could not come up with exact dates
and figures, this issue is a priority for the government.
“Everyone knows that unemployment in Kosovo is 45 per
cent, however the Kosovo Union of Independent Syndicates -KUIS is researching
the market in Kosovo to find new places for new workers,” Dedaj emphasised.
In the end, panellists said that they themselves were
highly motivated and expressed the hope that the unions will protect the right
of the workers in Kosovo.
During the debate, BIRN broadcast a health report from
journalist Alban Selimi looking at the health problems and showing how hospitals
are not functioning in Kosovo.
Life in Kosovo is a co-production between Kosovo Public
Television, RTK and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, BIRN. It is
broadcast every Thursday, starting at 20:20.
At the beginning of 2010 BIRN network published Digging Deeper - A Guide for Investigative Journalists in the Balkans, written in cooperation with Sheila Coronel, Director of the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism and professor of professional practice at Columbia University, New York.
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