Educational workers in North Mitrovica: We can't withdraw salaries due to the CBK regulation

Educational workers employed within the educational system of the Republic of Serbia in Kosovo gathered today in front of the Postal Savings Bank in North Mitrovica in an attempt to withdraw their salaries deposited into their accounts, while also expressing their protest due to the inability to do so.

In front of the bank branch itself, around 150 people are attempting to withdraw money, with some expressing their dissatisfaction with Kosovo Online regarding the situation, particularly regarding the Central Bank of Kosovo regulation prohibiting the dinar, which directly affects them.

Pedagogue Mara Jovic from North Mitrovica told Kosovo Online that the Serbian state had deposited salaries for educational workers, and they had come to withdraw the money.

"However, there's no money due to the abolishment of the dinar. Now the question arises of how we will survive and procure textbooks and teaching materials for our schools, and how we will educate our children," she said.

Milena Vuckovic says that after 39 years of working in education, for the first time, she cannot withdraw her earned money.

"This has never happened before; even during times of inflation, we managed and received our money. Besides having nothing to buy, now we're left without money as well. It's hard to go to Raska; no one has it easy. This is pressure on all of us to leave here, to abandon our ancestral homes forever. What's the only reason? Pressure to leave these areas, to forever leave our ancestral homes. I was born here, and my whole family lives here; we all receive our money here and live off that salary," she stated.

Jelena Lukovic from the Law Faculty says she came today to try to withdraw her earned salary, but she doubts it's possible even today.

"We've had a big problem with this for two or three weeks, if not more. Initially, we could somehow manage, but now it's getting harder. Obligations are due, bills for phone, cable, internet, installments for school trips for the children, snacks, and everyday expenses. It's simply impossible to live like this. Not to mention that all the children are sick at this time of year, and we have no medicines in the pharmacy. Last week my children were sick, we had nowhere to buy medicines; we had to go to Raska to get therapy for the children," Lukovic said.