Dozens of private sector workers protested on the occasion of International Workers’ Day, raising concerns about harsh working conditions, low wages, and the lack of enforcement of existing laws.

The protest, organized in the capital by the Trade Union Federation of Private Sector Workers, started from “Zahir Pajaziti” Square and continued in front of the Government building of Kosovo.

The head of the Federation, Jusuf Azemi, stressed that it is unfair that the private sector has not received the 13th salary.

“We today are receiving a 239-euro salary...These people whose blood is being slowly taken from us with a sponge... The public sector received the 13th salary, we were very pleased because we thought we would also receive it. It is an injustice that only the workers of Kosovo’s private sector have to bear on their shoulders. While our Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament and all others within one month had their budgets increased by 6,000 euros, we, respected colleagues, are still receiving 239 euros today. All of this can be anything, but it is not freedom and it cannot be equality, nor are these the words they tell us before elections,” he said.

Azemi also criticized the decision-making of institutions, highlighting that only one Member of Parliament, Besnik Tahiri, had raised his voice saying that the 13th salary should also belong to the private sector.

He also raised concerns about workplace safety and the lack of enforcement of laws. Azemi stressed that salaries delayed for months, with no one held accountable, are pushing young people to leave the country.

Meanwhile, a representative of private sector workers, Raba Dushi, emphasized the exhaustion and disappointment of workers in this sector, saying that each of them has at least once faced injustice and that their rights are not being enforced.

“Every day we hear cases of deaths. No one from the institutions is taking action… You know, with the wages we have, we can barely make it from month to month. Expenses are increasing every day, essential goods are difficult to afford. Most medical treatments require private access, which is a financial challenge for us and we can barely cover them. Food prices are constantly rising while our wages do not move… Government, do not take away our hope for building a better future. At least do not motivate our children to leave by building on the oppressed worker. Laws that are not enforced are not valid. Either justice, or there is no peace,” she said.

A representative of workers, Afërdita Hoxha, stated during the protest that their demands are not related to luxury, but to securing fundamental rights and dignity at work.

Raising concerns about the lack of legal protection, she added that workers continue to face insecurity and unequal treatment.

She also called on institutions to reflect and act in the interest of citizens, criticizing them for leaving workers, according to her, “outside the law” while receiving a 239-euro salary.

“Members of the Parliament of Kosovo and the Government: are you not ashamed when you go during election campaigns to private companies and declare that you will fight with all your strength for private sector workers, while in reality you are fighting for yourselves? You received the 13th salary and now your voice is no longer heard, while somewhere in the corner of Kosovo there is a poor person who cannot afford bread,” she said.

The protesters reiterated their demands, which they say have remained unchanged since last year. They are calling for an increase in the minimum wage to 600 euros, full enforcement of existing laws, the signing of a collective agreement, functional health insurance, and equal treatment with the public sector.

They also demanded the creation of a fund for workers who lose their lives or are injured at the workplace, payment of work experience (service years), and the establishment of a Labour Court.