Physical security workers at the Clinical University Hospital of Kosovo (QKUK), supported by the Trade Union Federation of Technical Workers in Kosovo’s Private Sector, have gone on strike due to the unresolved issue of employing physical security workers at QKUK.

The strike will continue daily from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM until the workers’ demands are met.

The chairman of the Trade Union Federation of Technical Workers in Kosovo’s Private Sector, Jusuf Azemi, said that the problem has exceeded every reasonable deadline and that, according to official information from the Procurement Review Body (KRPP) and the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (OSHP), the tender can be finalized within three days, or even within three hours if there is will from QKUK management.

“For two weeks now, we have left no door unopened to solve the problem and shorten the waiting period for these workers who remain outside the employment process. Despite our inquiries at KRPP and OSHP, we have been told that all doors are open, and the decision lies with QKUK to decide on the tender. We have official information from both OSHP and KRPP that this tender can last a maximum of three days, and if it is the will and desire of QKUK, it can be completed within three hours. We are officially convinced that this is being delayed for the benefit of individuals inside QKUK. We say this with full responsibility, and the Economic Crime Police have now entered to verify this tender. QKUK has the maximum obligation to resolve this issue within three days and allow the workers to return to their jobs. It is quite normal that we see and have information that many workers, especially from distant areas, have said that due to lack of funds, they cannot come,” Azemi said.

According to Azemi, the relevant institutions are avoiding responsibility. He said they initially justified themselves with KRPP and OSHP, but official documentation shows that QKUK is directly responsible for delaying the process.

He emphasized that this situation has left hundreds of workers without income, many of whom face loans and serious financial difficulties.

“More than 85% of these people have loans, for which creditors can even seize their property at home. The strike will continue today until 3:00 PM and every day from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM until it is resolved. What they are doing is a kind of idiocy... The state has the institutions and it must make the decision. Yesterday at 2:00 PM we communicated, while earlier the QKUK director told us that this procedure could last three days. That deadline was ten days ago. Yesterday we were told that neither the QKUK director nor the SHSKUK director dares to take responsibility. We were given this reasoning initially by KRPP, then OSHP. I personally verified that it was false. They said they guarantee us, and we have letters, but at first, they told us they are not sending us the codes. We went to the KRPP chairman, who gave us a letter that we have nothing to do with them, an official document, and then the ball is finally in QKUK’s court. Now, according to KRPP, the director in QKUK must give a signal to push the process forward. And the director says he has no access there; procurement must do this job, and we do not know—procurement is the director’s responsibility, and we are stuck here,” Azemi underlined.

The representative of the Physical Security Association of QKUK, Hakif Sylejmani, also demanded institutional clarification and a clear decision regarding their fate.

“We are in big trouble as workers at QKUK and face many injustices within the institution. Here is the issue of these tenders, the issue of returning to internal management. This is an intervention in internal management. We have quite a few offers from the ministry and directors of SHSKUK and QKUK that we would return to internal management, but we do not reject other companies either. Which company? We have no problem starting work with this company. We have had meetings. Mr. Hajdari at the last meeting removed responsibility from himself. We will continue until the General Directorate gives us a signal that on this date a contract will be signed to return to workplaces; otherwise, we will continue the strike for as long as it takes, one month, two months, three months,” he said.