Workers of utility companies in northern Kosovo outraged: We received our salaries, but we can't withdraw them

Several hundred employees of public utility companies in North Mitrovica gathered outside the branch of the Postal Savings Bank in the city, intending to withdraw their salaries, which were transferred to them from the budget of the Government of Serbia today. They told Kosovo Online that they were outraged because they could withdraw only up to 10,000 dinars since there was no money due to the decision of the CBK to ban the dinar.

Today in the salary payout line, there were workers from the municipal enterprises "Standard" and "Waterworks Ibar." There is no money at the ATMs, and at the counters, they can withdraw up to 10,000 dinars, as long as the cash reserves last.

One of the gathered workers, Hazir Krasnici, told Kosovo Online that his money had been deposited into his account yesterday afternoon when he had received a notification from the bank.

"I went to the Post Office, it was crowded. You can see that it's crowded today as well. Seventy percent of us are Roma, we have children and families, we can't withdraw money in any way. We can only withdraw a little, but it means nothing to us. Up to 10,000 dinars. That will be spent quickly, and tomorrow it will be the same crowd. All this is harassment. We are outraged, and all this makes our lives much harder," Krasnici said.

Sladjana Milenkovic agrees with him. She states that people who receive their salaries in dinars are resentful of the decision of the Kosovo government to ban the Serbian currency, which complicates their lives.

"Of course, we are resentful of this decision. It makes our lives harder, we can't withdraw our salaries, it's the same for all of us. Some are able to go to Central Serbia to withdraw their salaries, but some are not. We younger people manage somehow, but what about the pensioners? It is really difficult for older people. I was at the counter once, I withdrew 10,000, but it's limited for me and for other people from the northern part of Mitrovica," Milenkovic said.

Aleksa Radosavljevic says that the situation after the abolition of the dinar is very difficult for Serbs in Kosovo.

"The situation is very difficult. I am an employee of the Municipal Enterprise 'Waterworks Ibar.' We work 24 hours and we are at the service of citizens of all nationalities. Our personal income has been paid, however, there is no money in the banks, which forces people to go to Raska, Novi Pazar, and Kraljevo to withdraw their salaries. The situation is very difficult. There is a huge crowd at the Jarinje crossing, long lines, 2-3 hours of waiting, it is very difficult," Radosavljevic says.