REPUBLIKA E KOSOVËS / REPUBLIKA KOSOVA / REPUBLIC OF KOSOVA QEVERIA E KOSOVËS / VLADA KOSOVA / GOVERNMENT OF KOSOVA Servives Provided by the MLSW to Kosovo Citizens 1 Prishtina, July 2009
2 Public Communication Office By reading the leaflet, the reader/citizen of Kosovo will get familiar with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare scope of activity, respectively with the services that Ministry provides to Republic of Kosovo citizens, without any discrimination based on religion, race, gender or ethnicity. Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, as an integral part of Kosovo Government, undertakes to reduction of social problems, provision of services to employed persons, vocational training for jobseekers with the aim of providing them with required skills in occupational profiles demanded by the labour market. The Ministry deals with and takes care of the most voulnerable groups of the society, i.e. the families of victims of war, war invalids, pensionists, unemployed and for the citizens with special needs, of all ages and nationalities. The following are activities under the MLSW scope: Development of policies and strategies in the area of employment, social welfare, vocational training and health and safety for employees, Development and preparation of primary and secondary legislation in the above mentioned areas, Promotion and support to non-discriminatory em-
Servives Provided by the MLSW to Kosovo Citizens ployment relations by applying international labour standards Supervision of labour market supply and demand Provision of social support from its budget to house holds and individuals in need, Promotion of employment and proposition of relevant measures for employment growth, Conduction of labour market research, Encourage social dialogues and negotiations with social partners (trade unions, employers and their organizations) MLSW carries out these activities through seven departments and the Executive Body of Labor Inspectorate and other units under MLSW umbrella. 3
4 DEPARTMENTS: 1. Legal Deparment (LD) 2. Central Administrative Services Department (CASD) 3. Department of Labour and Employment (LED) 4. Department of Pensions Administration (DAP) 5. Department of the Victims of War Families and War Invalids 6. Department of Social Policies Institute (DSPI) 7. Labor Inspectorate Executive Body (LIEB) Services provided by MLSW departments for the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo: Legal Department develops primary and secondary legislation, in close cooperation with the Minister s Cabinet, with departments and other units under the MLSW scope. Central Administrative Services Department s aim is to provide administrative, logistic and infrastructural and archiving support for the central and local levels of MLSW. Department of Labour and Employment is the key instrument for addressing labour market structural problems, developing and designing employment and vocational training policies for jobseekers and for promotion of social dialogue in Kosovo. The Department carries out its activities through a network of seven regional Employment Centres, 23 Municipal Employment Offices, six Municipal Employment Sub-Offices and eight
Vocational Training Centres. Through employment services, from 2000 to present, 335 942 jobseekers are registered. 51 176 vacancies were found, whereas through employment mediation procedure 44 800 jobseekers were placed. Also, through these services 211 thousand jobseekers were provided employment counseling. MLSW annually organizes Public Works Project in Kosovo, where in cooperation with Municipalities, for a determined period of time (few months), on average 1,000 to 1.200 are employed, benefiting not only financially but also the Project has a visible impact on jobseekers employability and in a cleaner environment in Kosovo. With the aim of providing vocational training services for jobseekers, MLSW has established eight Vocational Training Centres (VTC) located in seven main cities of Kosovo. The VTCs offer free of charge vocational training courses in 28 occupa- 5
6 tional profiles, organized in 56 workshops. Workshops are equipped with modern equipment and tools, allowing such, quality theoretical and practical training. In all VTCs, there is a course on Self-employment, which can be attended by all jobseekers who have a business idea. Trainees benefiting from Social Assistance are covered transport costs through the Lux-Development Project. Presently, there are 1.600 trainees attending vocational training courses. Department of Pensions Administration. The Department provides services to citizens in accordance with legal acts and acts-under-the law, regulating pensions issue in Kosovo. According to such legislation, presently in Kosovo the following pension schemes are being implemented: 1. Basic pension, or age pension, whereby all Kosovo citizens, over 65 years old can use the scheme. 2. Elementary pensions for those citizens who have paid pension insurance and who have at least 15 years work experience. 3. Disability pension for all citizens who are 100% unable to work, and over 18 years old. 4. Early retirement scheme for Trepça (The scheme is managed by Trepça Company management and administered by MLSW). 5. Pension scheme for ex-kosovo Protection Corps members (Early retirement 45 years old and who have served in KPC for at least 5 years and permanent pen-
sion for members of over 50 years old). Based on the Pension and Disability Insurance Agreement of 1968, with other countries, through the MLSW, Kosovo citizens who have worked abroad and who have paid pension and disability insurance, are able to receive age pension, family pension and disability pensions and return of contributions.. Like others, this service also is provided through seven Regional Employment Centres and Municipal Employment Offices, in Kosovo territory. Department of Social Welfare Through the Department, MLSW provides financial assistance and other social services to all citizens with special needs. MLSW implements Social Assistance Scheme, whereby, users are divided into two categories: First Group Scheme aims at providing financial support to households with no member able to work, or who are not expected to become able to work, while category Two scheme also aims at providing financial support households with members capable of work, but who presently are in a difficult financial situation. 35 thousand households with over 155,000 members benefit from the scheme, while, the average amount is 60 Eur/month. Since the beginning of 2009, MLSW have initiated the financial support scheme for families which take care of children with disabilities, up to 18 years old. Beneficiaries of the scheme are families taking care of children under 18 years old with permanent disabilities, such as: blind children, immovable children and children that can not take care of their physiological needsd and who require 24 hours attention. Except the above mentioned schemes, MLSW also provides other social services for citizens of the Republic of Kosovo in accordance with the existing and applicable legislation in Kosovo. 7
8 Thanking to a great cooperation between MLSW and NGOs (SOS-Kinderdorf, Open Home, Every Child). The conditions are met temporarily shelter abandoned children in small houses until the Social Work Centre finds the most proper ways of their protection. A special attention is paid to the abused and maltreated children, to those with asocial behavior and juvenile delinquents. Another form of protecting children, is family sheltering for those without parental care. Family where the child is placed is eligible to receive financial support reaching an amount of 150 Eur/month, while when the child is placed at his/hers cousins the amount is 75 Eur/month. Elderly people without family care and those with disabilities enjoy institutional care at Elderly People s House in Prishtina, at the Special Institute in Shtime and Community-based House in Skenderaj, Gurakoc, Shtime, Graçanica, Ferizaj, Vushtrri, Dardana and Deçan. All social assistance users and those benefiting from the martyrs families scheme, war invalids and civilian victims of war are eligible to apply for the remission of 20 kw/h of electricity bill, carried out by the MLSW in cooperation with KEK (Kosovo power plant) and MEF. The services are provided through the network of Social Work Centres under MLSW umbrella, located in all Kosovo Municipalities. With the aim of promoting, developing and enriching vocational knowledge, skills and standards in the area of social and family services, MLSW has established the Social Policy institute, whose mission is to engage in partnership with community, to which it serves, to increase living standard of all people in need of the Repub-
lic of Kosovo. This Department carries out its activities in direct coordination and cooperation with SWCs and Labor and Social Welfare Municipal Directorates. Martyrs Families and War Invalids Department is in charge of managing, coordination, monitoring and administering pensions and benefitions and other special rights for individuals, who, with their engagement, in any way, contributed for the freedom of Kosovo, or victimized themselves for this cause. (The right to pension according to the Law No. 02/L-2 have enjoyed 2,071 martyrs families, 19 families of missing KLA members, 4, 995 families of civilian victims of war, 2,811 KLA invalids, 49 war invalids custodians, 32 war invalids families. According to applicable legislation regulating this area, so far, 11, 935 households and individuals have benefited from the scheme, reaching the amount of 43, 609, 725 Euro, while in Peja and Kllokot spas 1,166 invalids were referred for treatment, while for physical and health rehabilitation in the seaside of this category an amount of 34,000 Euro was committed. For accomplishing different war categories-related projects with NGOs, a budget in an amount of 768,000 Euro was allocated. All Kosovo citizens meeting criteria determined by the Law on the Values of War of KLA, can accomplish their rights through the offices of Department of the Victims of War Families and War Invalids, operating in all Kosovo territory. Executive Body of Labor Inspectorate - Through this agency, MLSW uniquely carries out monitoring of all working places, working environments, health and safety at work and protection of employees health. It also provides direct information and advise to employees 9
Servives Provided by the MLSW to Kosovo Citizens and employers, regarding the applicable legal provisions in Kosovo, regulating the area of labour, employm,ent, health and safety at work, protection of employees health and working environment. During their inspections of work places, labour inspectors act in banning all types of discrimination at work and forced work, but also in regulating trade unions organization, equal pay for men and women, working hours, daily, weekly and holiday leave, maternity leave, annual leave, sick leave, working conditions, safe work training, etc. The Agency comprises 51 labour inspectors, operating in all Kosovo Municipalities. 10