RTK in financial crisis, protest in front of the Kosovo Parliament tomorrow
Express newspaper
04/08/2025 13:27
Radio Television of Kosovo continues to face a deep financial crisis, as a result of the non-allocation of the budget for the second half of the year. This financial crisis is putting the functioning of the public broadcaster and the rights of workers at risk. In protest of the current situation, tomorrow, two RTK unions will protest in front of the Parliament building. This protest is supported by the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, who say that a solution must be found for RTK as soon as possible.
The employees of Radio Television of Kosovo have not yet received their July salaries, and it is not known when they will receive them, nor when the public broadcaster will be allocated the second part of the annual budget.
The situation created as a result of the political stalemate in the country and the failure to constitute the Assembly is putting the functioning of RTK and the rights of workers at risk.
And, to oppose the current situation, on Tuesday, from 11.00:XNUMX, two RTK unions will protest in front of the Parliament building. The President of the Radio Kosovo Union Association, Pajazit Krasniqi, while seeking a solution for the budget allocation for RTK, says that this will be the main demand.
“The Independent Trade Union of RTK and the Trade Union Association of Radio Kosovo have called for a general protest for tomorrow. The protest will be held in front of the building of the Assembly of Kosovo, as the founder of RTK, although it is known that the Assembly is not functional. The only request will be that the Government in office allocates the funds as soon as possible – that is, the second part of the budget which for this year belongs by law to Radio Television of Kosovo”, he said.
Krasniqi says that if the budget is not allocated, the unions will undertake other union measures.
“If the Government does not allocate the second part of the budget by the beginning of next week, then we are forced to take other union actions, due to the difficult financial situation. In the financial crisis, it is not only a matter of salaries, but also the unhindered functioning of RTK,” he said.
Tuesday’s protest is also supported by the Kosovo Journalists Association. Its president, Xhemajl Rexha, says it is regrettable that RTK workers cannot receive their salaries, although there is a solution for this.
“It is regrettable that this call from everyone, and first of all from RTK, its management and employees, this call to the Government has not been heard. The call from the local and international factor to allocate the budget for RTK has not been heard either. The Government has the opportunity to allocate the budget for the next six months with a special decision. And undoubtedly, such inaction will cause great damage to RTK,” declared Rexha.
The Ombudsman, Naim Qelaj, also reacted to the difficult financial situation in RTK a few days ago, writing a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, requesting an immediate solution to the emergency situation RTK is in. In his letter, Qelaj emphasizes the vital importance of a functional public broadcaster in a democratic society and the right of workers to regular payments and dignified working conditions.