Prishtina, 21 March, 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated today in the second national conference for marking the World Social Work Day in Kosovo, on the topic “Social Work Professionals in the Social Protection System”.
In his speech, Prime Minister Kurti expressed gratitude and gratitude for the undeniable contribution of social workers saying that the realization of the social rights of citizens, the construction and maintenance of social protection systems, requires active engagement of social workers.
“Social workers, with their daily commitment, support citizens in dealing with social problems and overcoming them. At the same time they serve the country to advance socially,”he said.
While mentioning inappropriate attention to the centers for social work in the past, the prime minister said there are 38 social work centers across Kosovo in all its municipalities and they offer more than 70 services to citizens.
In the framework of the legislative agenda the Prime Minister set out the Draft Law on Social Services, which envisions deep reform of the centers for social work. For this, he added, has been talked about with many present today at the prime minister’s last month meeting. “And the working group is already making a detailed analysis of the situation in these centers, in relation to human responsibilities, challenges and capacities,” the prime minister said.
At the same time, Prime Minister Kurti said that together we are aiming to strengthen the centers by increasing capacity, the obligation to profile staff in accordance with the needs of citizens.
The Government of Kosovo, along with development policies, prioritizes social protection for our citizens, with adequate and especially sustainable and long -term programs.
The government program focuses on social justice, on changing prerequisites for the transformation of society. The prime minister said that we will achieve this goal only if we achieve it for everyone, without privileging anyone who becomes discrimination for others.
He also reminded that four days ago support for employers who increased the salaries of 16,996 private sector workers, a measure that we have subsidized 50% of the increase in salary for the first 3 months, was executed. This marks the completion of all packages of inflation with inflation.
The package for economic resurrection and the inflation that our government has implemented, have been comprehensive and helped families with heavy budget. Over 688,000 citizens are supported by the state.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear Minister of Justice, Ms. Albulena Haxhiu,
The Honorable Head of the Office of the European Union in Kosovo, Mr. Tomáš szunyog,
Dear Chief of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Michael Davenport,
Dear Coordinator for the Development of the United Nations, Ms. Arnhild Spence,
Dear Chief of the UNICEF office in Kosovo, Ms. Nona Zicherman,
Dear Mr. Blerim Shabani, president of the Association of Centers for Social Work, namely the Association of Non Municipal Centers that anyone may think of,
Dear Professor Avdyl Gashi, Head of the Department of Social Work at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Prishtina,
Dear Project for Accreditation, Quality of Learning and Student Issues Ms. Njomza Mullaku,
Dear Director of Handikos, Mr. Afrim Maliqi,
Dear guests you honored us with your participation today here,
Liridon Latifi, Center for Social Work in Presevo,
Anisa Subashi, Center for Social Work in Tirana,
Liridon Baftiu Center for Social Work, Skopje,
Ervin Muco, Municipality of Elbasan, Director,
And Alma Tandili, State Agency for the Rights and Protection of the Child,
Dear representatives of the municipalities of the Republic and civil society organizations,
Ladies and gentleman,
Good morning and well that we are meeting at the National Conference on the World Social Work Day. At the center of the conference will be social workers in the social protection system in Kosovo.
The realization of the social rights of citizens, the construction and maintenance of social protection systems, requires active engagement of social workers. Social workers, with their daily commitment, support citizens in dealing with social problems and overcoming them. At the same time they serve the country to advance socially. So he expressed thanks and gratitude for your undeniable work, commitment and contribution.
Although there are 38 social work centers across Kosovo in all its municipalities and they offer more than 70 services to citizens, in the past they have not been given proper attention.
Within the legislative agenda we have the Draft Law on Social Services, which foresees deep reform of social work centers. We have talked to many of you at the meeting of last month at the prime minister. The working group is already making a detailed analysis of the situation in these centers, in relation to human responsibilities, challenges and capacities.
Together we aim to strengthen the centers by increasing capacity, the obligation to profile staff in accordance with the needs of citizens. And our government, in addition to development policies, prioritizes social protection for our citizens, with adequate and especially sustainable programs. Not only overcoming the problem but also its non -imposition.
From the beginning of this mandate we have taken a number of measures that directly assist in the vulnerable groups of society, ranging from increasing the amount of social assistance, increasing pensions and starting the implementation of the additional maternity and child allowances.
Four days ago, support for employers who increased the salaries of 16,996 employees in the private sector was executed, a measure that we have subsidized 50% of salary increases for the first 3 months. This measure marks the completion of all packages of inflation with inflation. The package for economic resurrection and the inflation that our government has implemented, have been comprehensive and helped families with heavy budget. Over 688,000 citizens are supported by the state. We have also assisted citizens with the payment for electricity subsidy for about 175,000 families only in January this year.
There are now over 330,000 children who are receiving additions every month, and about 90,000 women who for the first time as a result of governing policies have opened bank accounts for maternity and children. We have also allocated 1.2m euros for 19 folk cuisines for the category of citizens who are most in need.
There can be no social equality when part of society is not treated. For us equality is not limited to equal and uniform possibilities. However, it is achieved when the support provided also has the various needs and circumstances to have an equal and fair result. Because justice is not only in the verdict in the courtroom but also in society. We need to have justice in society so that we need as little as possible to divide justice in the courts. So equality also through solidarity and awareness.
We need to commit to people to become aware of the measures that exist in our institutions, in social work centers. To add the commitment to cultural, human, humanist and equilibrium education.
Our government program focuses on social justice, on changing prerequisites for the transformation of society. And we will achieve this goal only if we achieve it for everyone, without privileged anyone who becomes discrimination for others. Without leaving anyone behind, and helping those who are most needed.
What we have for a professional and moral obligation is to make the utmost efforts within our institutions, to cooperate with the relevant institutions, to coordinate our efforts and actions to achieve greater as possible. Cooperation on themes of such importance is essential. With full professional responsibility, respecting the dignity and value of all people in your work and to reduce inequalities and increase social justice.
Thank you very much and wish you fruitful discussions at today’s conference and good work in your commitments and tasks.
Thank you!
Last modified: March 21, 2023