Labor Day: Who in the region has reason to celebrate?

In some places, with twelve-hour workdays; in others, without health insurance or service bonuses; and in many cases, with trade unions in poor condition or lacking authority—this is how workers across the region greeted Labor Day. Speaking to Kosovo Online, voices from Pristina, Belgrade, Skopje, and Tirana note that entrepreneurs find it easier to turn to foreign labor markets than to see problems within their own systems. They stress that protecting workers’ rights should begin with legal reform.

Written by: Dusica Radeka Djordjevic

This morning, the train from Kosovo Polje to Pec departed 15 minutes late—railway workers in Kosovo used the delay to protest and demand wage increases.

A protest march also took place in Pristina, drawing attention to poor working conditions, inflation, and the lack of workers’ rights. Protesters pointed out the harsh choices they face each month: pay rent or buy medicine?

Agim Shahini, President of the Kosovo Business Alliance, told Kosovo Online that Kosovo still lacks a Health Insurance Law and that workers in high-risk sectors—construction, police, security forces—remain without coverage.

“Workers in several sectors are risking their lives, especially in construction. Each month, someone is injured or killed from falling off scaffolding, and these workers still don’t have insurance. Before the 2020 elections, the Prime Minister promised a Health Insurance Law. It was prepared in 2022 but had many flaws and was returned by the Constitutional Court. The law was deliberately poorly written, showing a lack of political will to pass a functional version,” said Shahini.

He also pointed out that when labor protests do occur in Kosovo, they rarely draw more than a thousand participants—creating the illusion that conditions are good and workers don’t need to protest.

“Public sector workers are afraid to protest, and private sector workers either fear losing their jobs or don’t have the time. Unions in Kosovo are weak, divided, and often more political than focused on their original mission. They’ve lost credibility—so even when they call for protests, workers don’t respond,” Shahini emphasized.

"Business Needs First"

Union representatives also protested in Belgrade today. At one rally, it was reported that in 2024 alone, 59 workers died on the job or from injuries sustained at work. Protesters called for amendments to the Labor Law and the Law on Strikes, which they say limit workers' rights and fail to reflect changes in industry and technology or recognize new job types.

Zoran Pasalic, Ombudsman of the Republic of Serbia, told Kosovo Online that most complaints received by his office regarding labor rights violations come from small or medium business owners and typically relate to taxes, contributions, and similar obligations.

“As for private-sector or even public-sector employees, the complaints usually concern annual leave—its use or duration—or issues that arise when employment ends, like severance pay, pensions, and other rights,” Pasalic explained.

He added that before such cases reach the courts, there are several steps:
“People first come to us, we refer them to the labor inspection authorities, and once they complete their investigation, we proceed. If we still can’t resolve the issue, it goes to court. Some cases are resolved quickly; others take longer.”

From a financial and safety standpoint, he noted that the most vulnerable jobs in Serbia are typically lower-skilled ones—those requiring only secondary education.
“These are usually in large retail systems employing many people. Employers often cite ‘business needs’ when changing shifts, extending work hours, or transferring workers between locations,” he said.

Protests and strikes, he added, are just one tool for asserting workers’ rights, but the real solution lies in systemic legal reform—through the Constitution, applicable laws, and internal regulations defining workers’ status.

Bakers Paid More Than Engineers

Employment expert and university lecturer Erion Muça from the “Marin Barleti” University in Tirana said that, as in previous years, there were no Labor Day protests in Albania. Workers’ problems, he noted, get lost in institutional bureaucracy or seemingly endless court cases. The root issue, he said, is the absence of strong or dedicated trade unions.

This May 1st, Albania faces a labor shortage compared to the previous year, with entrepreneurs making greater efforts to recruit foreign workers. There is also a growing demand for physical over intellectual labor.

“The local and regional labor markets have shrunk, both in the number of employees and in terms of business needs. Some entrepreneurs have turned to foreign markets for staffing. Demand is increasing for low-skilled workers to fill simple jobs. This has left highly educated professionals under strain, frustrated by low wages. Today, it’s not unusual for a baker in Albania to earn more than an engineer—and that wage disparity fuels dissatisfaction among skilled workers,” Muça told Kosovo Online.

He said the most at-risk and least-in-demand jobs are those involving manual service, such as retail, where not only small shops are suffering but also workers in larger chains.

“This is due to the rise of online shopping platforms, which have developed rapidly and caused many small businesses to go bankrupt, resulting in job losses. This also affects related professions, such as accountants who managed those businesses’ books,” he explained.

Muça noted growing demand in Albania for unskilled labor in manufacturing, construction, and tourism, saying the economy needs “more manpower than brainpower.”

“There is greater demand for physical labor than intellectual work. This aligns with so-called national priorities—such as tourism or infrastructure development,” he added.

Regarding efforts to recruit foreign labor, he stated that entrepreneurs see this as an easier solution than fixing internal problems or improving employee motivation and advancement programs.

“Albanian entrepreneurs find it easier to turn to foreign markets than to address their own shortcomings. Instead of improving how they organize their operations and treat workers, they look elsewhere. Compared to last May 1st, there is growing interest in bringing Albanian emigrants back to invest in or work in Albania, aligned with their skills and foreign experience,” said Muça.

Worker Import Efforts Falling Flat

In Skopje, union representatives took to the streets demanding an increase in the minimum wage. Slobodan Trendafilov, President of the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia, said workers across the region have plenty of reasons to protest this Labor Day and emphasized that Macedonian workers start their day at the bottom of the wage scale in the Balkans.

“What we’re asking for in Macedonia is what workers elsewhere in the region already enjoy. We fear that Macedonian workers may leave the country this summer to work elsewhere in the region for significantly higher wages. It’s disheartening. We had hoped the government would follow the example of neighboring countries and adopt measures to maintain living standards or raise wages,” Trendafilov told Kosovo Online.