The Kosovo Police announced protests in case their working conditions are not improved. Meanwhile, Kosovo Government officials said they understand the legitimate demands of the police officers. Government spokesperson said that “we are going to do anything possible to increase the salaries of police officers.”

“The Kosovo Police union did not ask for a pay raise. We just want what belongs to us by law and if they do not fulfill this, then 300 police members will surely quit,” said the Kosovo Police Union deputy leader Shaban Tasholli.

“For now, we have an agreement with the government - which was reached between the ministry and the police – for improving the welfare and conditions of police officers that includes risk, work experience, night shift work, work during holidays and overtime work. We did not ask for a pay raise, regardless of the fact that the government has announced a 10% pay raise,” said Tasholli.

Tasholli said that talks between the Police and the Ministry of Interior Affairs are going on since last March and that they have received promises but their demands have never been met.   

“There were promises but it’s been months since then. We waited until September, October… and in December we were forced to announce protests and we are going to protest massively,” said Tasholli.

Meanwhile, Government spokesperson Memli Krasniqi said that talks on this issue are still going on between police officials and MIA officials.

“MIA is looking over the possibilities to reconsider the salaries, always in coordination with the Ministry of Finance. Contacts between the police and MIA representatives are still going on and when we know to what limit these demands will be met, then I believe that we are going to make an agreement with the police unionists,” said spokesperson Krasniqi.

Improving the working conditions is a priority for the unionists. However, if there are no changes regarding this, they said that they will come up with other demands.