Educational workers in Strpce: Our salaries have been deposited, but we can't withdraw them

Educational workers from the municipality of Strpce gathered in front of the Post Office to withdraw the money deposited into their accounts, but they were unsuccessful today, as there is not a single dinar. They emphasize that the situation is extremely difficult, especially considering the fact that they live in the most remote municipality and that it takes them over 100 kilometers in one direction to reach the nearest ATM in central Serbia.

Teacher Veselinka Stojanovic tells Kosovo Online that she tried again today to withdraw her salary to feed her two children but was unsuccessful.

"I came hoping to get a few dinars so we can survive these difficult days. I am a mother of two children, and unfortunately, as you know, there is a severe shortage of dinars. We have no other income besides what I earn from my job, and the situation is very tough. I hope that a solution will be found soon and that we will have a somewhat decent life. I think it's illogical that in the 21st century, we don't have basic human rights. We're not asking for much, just what is rightfully ours. Let the international community and everyone involved in solving our problem think about this and resolve it as soon as possible, so we can somewhat resume our lives normally," Stojanovic said.

The Director of the Elementary School 'Staja Markovic' in Strpce, Cedomir Nikolic, emphasizes that their salaries were deposited into their accounts on time, but they are unable to withdraw them because there are no dinars. He points out that this situation is difficult for them, but the hardest hit are the most vulnerable categories of the population.

"Our salaries were deposited two days ago, and we still cannot withdraw our money. The problem is not only with our salaries and withdrawing our money; personally, I believe that the much bigger issue is for those in more vulnerable categories, such as pensioners, social categories, and people who truly do not have the means to physically go to the territory of central Serbia to withdraw their money and survive in Kosovo and Metohija," Nikolic said.

English language teacher Zvezdana Stevanovic emphasizes that they are in an extremely difficult situation, especially because they live in the most remote municipality.

"I want to emphasize that we are in an extremely difficult situation because it is not possible to withdraw the basic means of living. We all have young children to feed, and it is not possible to do so without income. I want to point out that we are the most remote community here in Kosovo, and it is extremely difficult to go to the nearest ATM and withdraw our salaries as envisioned by the representatives of this government. Additionally, each of us works every day in teaching, and it is impossible to leave our job and withdraw our salary because we would lose a working day. Recipients of social assistance and pensioners do not have such large incomes to go outside Kosovo to withdraw their earnings, as they would spend half of those earnings on the way. I hope this situation will be resolved so that life can return to normal," Stevanovic said.