Acting Ombudsperson welcomes the agreement reached between the strikers of SBASHK and Kosovo Government
Acting Ombudsperson Mr. Hilmi Jashari welcomed today an agreement reached last night between the Kosovo Government and the Education and Science Trade Union of Kosovo (SBASHK). The agreement comes eight days after union members began a hunger strike to draw attention to their demands. The Government has accepted the trade union’s requests, including a 12% pay rise for its workers.
The Acting Ombudsperson had monitored the hunger strike since it began on 11 October. Playing a mediator’s role during meetings with Prime Minister Agim Çeku, Deputy Prime Minister Lutfi Haziri and the Minister for Education, Science and Technology Agim Veliu, the Acting Ombudsperson had also raised concerns about the health of the workers on hunger strike.
A committee established by Prime Minister Çeku will work with the union to implement last night’s agreement.
“A situation where teachers are on hunger strike threatens both their health as well as their students’ right to a normal learning environment,” Mr. Jashari said today. “I am therefore glad that my efforts to mediate in this dispute have assisted the parties involved in finding a resolution.”
Acting Ombudsperson Jashari welcomed the Government’s willingness to accept the union’s demands. He further indicated that was prepared to mediate in any situations giving rise to potential human rights violations.