Hykmete Bajrami calls for investigation into tenders and wage disparities

Hykmete Bajrami, a deputy for the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), has raised several concerns regarding governance and labor rights in Kosovo. She has called on the Special Prosecution to investigate approximately 3,000 negotiated tenders, alleging they have become a common government practice linked to corruption. Bajrami cited a case in Podujeva where pellet contracts were reportedly 120 euros more expensive per ton than those in Rahovec through open tenders.

Regarding labor, Bajrami highlighted a strike by technical school workers. She noted that while the minimum wage was set at 500 euros gross, workers employed by private companies contracted by municipalities are still receiving only 390 euros. She criticized the disparity between the public sector, which received a 130 million euro allocation for a 13th salary, and private sector workers who are not receiving the legal minimum wage.

In the healthcare sector, the Governing Board of the University Clinical Hospital Service of Kosovo (SHSKUK) has demanded improved service quality and greater accountability from regional hospital managements. The board has initiated disciplinary proceedings against individuals suspected of violations and called for professional working groups to analyze mortality rates, hospital infections, and surgical complications.