The Musine Kokalari Institute for Social Policy held a meeting with the Independent Trade Union of Trepça Miners, where the main challenges faced by workers and the trade union organization itself were discussed.
Union representatives emphasized that one of the key concerns remains the lack of social dialogue. Currently, there are no negotiations on the collective agreement, the 13th salary, or other issues related to workers’ rights, which are often not respected.
The meeting also addressed the upcoming internal union elections, identified as a concrete opportunity for support from the Institute. Another issue raised was the change in an administrative instruction, which has so far prevented the union’s registration.
Regarding further cooperation between the Institute and the union, several key areas were identified: advocacy for legal changes to protect the rights of Trepça workers; strengthening cooperation among trade unions; preparation for the resumption of social dialogue in the context of the country’s EU integration process; and developing communication with similar unions in EU countries.
During the discussion, it was noted that trade unions were once the strongest voice of workers, even in more difficult political periods. Although formal organization is now more developed, unions no longer have the same level of influence, while political interference has increased significantly.
Serious concerns were also raised regarding violations of Trepça workers’ rights, including the lack of health insurance, the absence of early retirement schemes, and the non-payment of pension contributions. It was also noted that the last wage increase occurred in 2016, at a level of 20%.
(This activity is supported by the Kosovo Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) program “EJA Kosovo”, co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Sweden.)