PROJECT NAME:

Protecting and promoting labour rights of vulnerable groups in the labour market Contract number: 2021/430-829

SECTOR:

Rule of Law

PROJECT VALUE:

Total cost of the project 384,756.50 Euros (EU contribution 346,280.85 Euros)

DURATION:

Start Date: January 01, 2022 End Date: December 31, 2023

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER:

Advocacy Training and Resource Center (ATRC)

DIRECT BENEFICIARY:

Workers, Employers, Justice Institutions (the Court, State Prosecutor, Police), local CSOs, non-formal groups, journalists, human rights activists, potential future employees.

PARTNERS:

Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN)

COVERAGE/IMPACT:

Protecting labour rights of vulnerable groups in Kosovo, including workers in need of protection, women, youth, non-majority ethnic communities, and people with disabilities; Developing capacities of duty-bearers, including judges, prosecutors and police, as well as journalists, and CSOs; Promoting labour rights in Kosovo by working jointly with key institutions, including Justice Institutions (the Court, State Prosecutor, Police, and Ombudsperson), Labour Inspectorate and Tax Administration.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

The overall objective of the proposed Action is to improve the working conditions for vulnerable categories of employees, notably within the private sector, including workplace health and safety for women and men, through the promotion of social dialogue between workers and duty bearers. The specific objectives are: i) To strengthen compliance with labour laws through direct monitoring and reporting of labour rights abuse cases; ii) To strengthen the capacities of duty bearers and CSOs to work on labour rights; iii) To raise public awareness on labour law.

PROJECT PURPOSES:

The violation of labour rights, especially of the vulnerable groups after the pandemic has threatened the rule of law in regard to labour rights in Kosovo. By targeting the private and public sector employees through developing a mechanism to report online and monitoring the cases on the Labour Inspectorate and other relevant institutions such as court cases whereas employees experienced workplace serious injuries. Furthermore, raising the capacities of the duty-bearers, CSOs, journalists, and youth in labour rights, will generate the need for the implementation of the labour law in practice or at the work environments. While on the other side, the campaign on labour law will increase the knowledge about labour rights of the employees’ all actions together will mobilize and strengthen the employees' position in Kosovo’s work environment.

PROJECT STRATEGY:

International reports such as the 2020 Commission Staff Working Document for Kosovo further attest to the insufficient implementation of the Labour law in Kosovo, particularly among the vulnerable groups of employees. The project will comprise of direct work with employees, future potential employees, key stakeholders, private companies, citizens, and CSOs who play a central role in advocating and protecting the human rights of the most vulnerable groups of employees. In regard to achieving the results through the activities such as the development of a special section platform to report the violations of labour rights, monitoring and reporting the employment cases whereas the employees were victims of work injuries, capacity building and training of the duty bearers, capacity building training of the CSOs, journalists and human rights activists, raising public awareness on the Labour Law, the establishment of the consortium of CSOs to advocate for changes in the Labour law, sub-granting awards for CSOs, lawyers, and other registered entities to promote labour rights. Those activities will ensure the effective implementation, quality of legal services, and creation of sustainable structures for future work in promoting labour rights. These activities will be provided by experts and designed to meet the core technical need of staff working within the employees’ cases. Emphasis will be placed on theoretical as well as hands-on forms of learning, with strong links to practical application, accompanied by additional technical assistance, mentoring, and supervision. Central to the successful implementation of all ATRC’s and BIRN Kosovo’s work in Kosovo has been collaboration with and inclusion of all relevant stakeholders. A consortium of CSOs will be set up to consult and involve relevant stakeholders in the design, planning, monitoring, and advocating for labour rights. This includes consulting with syndicates, central and local authorities, NGOs advocating for human rights more precisely for labour rights, victims of work injuries, and activists. This participatory approach will contribute to the sustainability of the project by empowering employees' rights, national stakeholders, especially beneficiaries, and build a sense of implementation of laws, responsibility, as well as strengthen the role of civil society in Kosovo. The project will work towards establishing permanent links between government institutions and civil society organizations as a way of enhancing sustainability and the impact of the action. Underpinning all aspects of the project is the commitment to respect all sectors of the population, including minorities, youth, and the promotion of gender equity.

ACTIVITIES:

1. Development of a special section of the KALLXO.com platform to report “Violations of Labour Rights”; 2. Organising joint inspections with the Tax Administration of Kosovo (TAK) and the Labour Inspectorate; 3. Monitoring citizens’ reports of labour rights violations in relevant institutions: 4. Organising a three-day workshop on labour rights in Kosovo; 5. Training for 20 duty bearers to strengthen their capacities on working with labour rights violation cases; 6. Training for journalists on reporting on labour rights and violations; 7. Interviewing 50 businesses, 20 employees (people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, women, youth) and analyse the level of implementation of the law; 8. Carrying out a social media campaign; 9. Establishing a Consortium of CSOs to advocate for changes in the Labour law; 10. Organising information sessions on labour law in Kosovo municipalities; 11. Launching a sub-granting scheme awarding up to 20 awards, amounting between EUR 5,000 and EUR 10,000 for unions, CSOs, lawyer groups and other registered groups (entities) to promote labour rights, report violations, conduct research, and engage in social dialogue with public authorities.

RESULTS:

● Approximately 100 cases of labour rights abuses are reported on the KALLXO.com platform; ● 30 joint inspections with the Labour Inspectorate and TAK are carried out; ● 30 cases of complaints are monitored; ● Up to 20 subgrants are distributed to groups working on and promoting labour rights, reaching over 5,000 employees; ● Duty bearers are trained on handling labour rights cases and public communication; ● Over 1 million people are reached through TV, online and social media channels through media reports on labour rights; in-house and scholarships provided; ● Concrete recommendations are provided to relevant institutions on necessary changes to legislation concerning labour rights.