Workers of Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) protested again in front of the Kosovo Assembly building, demanding their salaries for the month of October. They received support from the Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly, Dimal Basha, but the latter was also confronted with an interesting request from the workers of the public broadcaster.
The protest, organized by the Independent Union of RTK and the Trade Union Association of Radio Kosovo, was in response to the failure of responsible institutions to transfer the second part of the RTK budget for 2025, even though, according to them, it constitutes a legal obligation for execution.
According to the unions, delays in the transfer of budgetary funds have created a severe financial situation for RTK workers, seriously jeopardizing their well-being and the normal operation of the public broadcaster.
The Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly, Dimal Basha, expressed solidarity with the RTK workers, saying that over 700 workers are waiting for their salaries, and he added that he has invited the political parties to take the necessary steps.
“As a procedure, we have a functioning Assembly, the establishment of committees is required, reports need to be approved, and with the approval of the reports, the Government or the Ministry of Finance executes the funds. It’s a very simple procedure. I made the same request for the municipal budgets for the annual budget, but as far as RTK is concerned, all that is required is that we can meet within the day, form the parliamentary committees, in this case, the Budget Committee, approve the report, and within the same day, execute the funds for workers’ salaries,” said Basha.
Meanwhile, one of the RTK workers asked Basha if he could refuse his salary in solidarity with the RTK workers.
“Your analogy makes sense, while I say that by boycotting yours, you are asking me not to take mine. It has nothing to do with the salary, but with the process where the deputies who have a functional mandate to approve the report and take the salaries for all RTK workers. This might apply only to deputies who are refusing,” said Basha.
Basha added that if there is political will, he will call a session tomorrow to form the committee, and mentioned that they have around 56 votes, but need the support of other deputies.
The Chair of the Trade Union Association of Radio Kosovo, Pajazit Krasniqi, said that for months, Radio Television of Kosovo has been facing a difficult situation: the budget for the second half of 2025, though approved by law, has still not been transferred by the responsible institutions.
“The budget for the second part of 2025, although approved by law, has still not been transferred by the responsible institutions. Even today, when the calendar marks the 10th, we, the workers of Radio Television of Kosovo, have still not received our salaries for October. This is the second time that the workers of Radio Television of Kosovo, over 700 employees, are facing such a situation, and this is happening at an exceptionally sensitive and busy time for RTK workers. Despite the difficulties and lack of salaries, RTK staff has continued with dedication to implement major professional projects, such as covering local elections and the runoff vote, preparing for coverage of new potential elections that are already being mentioned, the realization of the Song Festival, and many other achievements, all of which are major projects of national importance,” he said.
It should be noted that there are three unions at RTK representing the workers of the public broadcaster: the Independent Union of RTK, the Trade Union Association of Radio Kosovo, and the RTK Workers’ Union.
