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Family-friendly workplaces – a node waiting for solutions

Family-friendly workplaces – a node waiting for solutions
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Saxhide Mustafa

Kosovo, as a country with a young population and a dynamic country, is also closing the year 2024 with an important challenge in its economic and social development: the creation of jobs for women, while there is still a lack of policy addressing more family friendly. However small the trend of economic growth, such a thing affects the modernization of society and increases the need for policies and practices that support the balance between professional and family life. But are the institutions and businesses of Kosovo ready to address this important node?

But what are family-friendly workplaces?


Family-friendly workplaces are those that offer stable support to their employees, including maternity leave, parental leave, compliance with the law on breastfeeding, creating environments for this right, flexible working hours, opportunities to working from home and access to affordable childcare services, transportation, etc. These policies and practices are necessary to help parents and caregivers combine family responsibilities with professional commitments.

International policies introduced by EU directives, other international organizations such as UNFPA, UNICEF, ILO, etc., prove that family-friendly workplaces are not only beneficial for individuals, but also a powerful tool to promote gender equality. , to reduce poverty and increase economic productivity. In Kosovo, these benefits may be of particular importance, given the young age and participation of women in the labor market, which continues to be among the lowest in the region, with only 24.2 percent [%] compared with that of men reaching 57.8 percent.

Family-friendly policies instill a sense of security and well-being among employees, helping to reduce stress and increase productivity. For employers, a family-friendly policy can help attract and retain talent, especially in an increasingly competitive market.

At the national level, such policies help improve gender equality by giving women the opportunity to contribute to the workforce without giving up family responsibilities. This, in turn, increases the active workforce and positively affects the country's economic growth.

In Kosovo, the implementation of family-friendly policies faces several obstacles:

Lack of supportive policies: Although the labor law exists since 2010, it only offers the possibility of paying maternity leave as follows: The first six months after birth are paid by the employer with coverage of 70 percent of the salary according to the contract, the next three months (from month 7 -9 after birth) are covered by the government with the payment of 50 percent of the average salary in Kosovo. Also, the mother has the right to use three months free of charge if she wishes (from 10-12 months after birth). On the other hand, fathers benefit only for three days upon the birth of a child. However, the implementation of these provisions leaves much to be desired, while parental leave still remains unrealized. This makes it a challenging situation for many women to return to the labor market after giving birth.

Traditional culture and mentality: Patriarchal traditions place the primary burden of child and elderly care and household chores on women. This affects their lack of involvement in the labor market and their opportunities to pursue a career.

Costs to businesses: Many companies, especially micro, small and medium-sized ones, may feel overwhelmed by the additional costs associated with implementing such policies. The burden of the paid employer has caused a great burden for the private sector when we consider that at the same time it is burdened with two payments.

Lack of childcare services: Affordable quality public nurseries and kindergartens are few and far between and those in the private sector unaffordable for ordinary families. This leaves parents, especially mothers, with very few options.

Well, what can be done?

To solve this knot and build a better future for Kosovar families, coordinated actions are needed by institutions, the private sector and civil society to:

Drafting of national supportive policies: The government should urgently bring the labor law to public discussion and include it in the legislative program 2025. This law must necessarily include the payment of maternity leave, paid parental leave, flexibility at work, part-time work. Furthermore, affirmative measures should be created for businesses that adopt such practices as well as monitoring the implementation of the law on breastfeeding.

Building childcare infrastructure: Investments in affordable and quality nurseries and kindergartens should be a priority. Cooperation between the government and the private sector can help achieve this goal. Implementing vouchers for care could be a good option as well.

Raising awareness: Public information campaigns can help change the mentality about the role of women and men in the family and at work.

Engagement of the private sector: Companies should see family-friendly practices not just as a cost, but as a long-term investment that brings benefits to the business and employees.

The challenges that exist today are not insurmountable. With a sincere and concerted commitment from all parties, it is possible to create an environment where families feel supported and where individuals can fulfill their full potential. Family-friendly workplaces in Kosovo remain an important but still unachieved goal, and with minor exceptions undertaken by some companies. Mr. Blin Zeqiri from art house LLC, which in addition to confirming that its company covers maternity leave according to the law in force, moreover, offers a day off (Friday) for fathers for six (6) months after the birth of the child. Such a model, and the undertaking of similar policies, are motivating, create family-friendly environments and workplaces, but are models that make Kosovo a better place to live and build the future.

The author is a senior associate of the Riinvest Institute

The article is supported by the project: More Choices through Family-Friendly Policies implemented by the Riinvest Institute – Women's Economic Forum, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).