Trepca workers protest against new Kosovo law

ZVECAN - Trepca workers from northern Kosovo staged protests in the municipalities of Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic on Monday against a new bill the Kosovo government had adopted regarding a change of ownership in that company to turn it into a public enterprise.

On January 15, the government of Kosovo adopted amendments to the law on public enterprises, which should enable it to take over 100 percent of all ownership and management rights in Trepca. The Assembly of Kosovo decided to debate the amendments under urgent procedure at a meeting scheduled for January 19.

The Serbian government Sunday urged the international community to use its influence and react so that the issue could be resolved within the framework of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and not by unilateral moves.

Trepca should be included in the Brussels talks as soon as possible, the protest said in Rudare, near Zvecan.

Head of the Trepca worker union Dusan Dragovic said the members of the union rejected completely the draft law the Kosovo government had adopted to turn the company into a public enterprise.

It is incomprehensible how the Kosovo government can propose a law that will change the ownership structure within Trepca without previously seeking opinion from the union, management and local government, Dragovic pointed out.

"We propose that the issue of company property, change of ownership and organisation of Trepca-sever be included in the agenda for the talks in Brussels urgently," he noted.

The union represents around 3,300 employees of Trepca in northern Kosovo, who provide for around 20,000 members of their families.

"We say it clearly here for everyone to hear that if the arguments and views of the...