The alarming number of workplace fatalities in Kosovo continues to grow, highlighting deep-rooted safety and labor rights issues. In the first three months of 2025 alone, eight workers lost their lives on the job—most of them in the construction sector. These tragic incidents bring the total number of workplace deaths in the past decade to nearly 240, with an additional 1,780 workers injured.
Two recent fatalities occurred within just a few days of each other, involving men in their 40s working in construction for different companies. These deaths are not isolated incidents but part of a grim pattern that points to systemic neglect.
Many construction workers in Kosovo operate without employment contracts, health insurance, or basic safety provisions—leaving them exposed to significant risks and without legal protection. According to Jusuf Azemi, the head of the Independent Union of Private Sector Workers, the situation is dire. “When a worker dies, no one takes responsibility,” he said. “Neither the company nor the state intervenes. Families are left alone to deal with the emotional and financial burden.”
Azemi emphasized that the lack of safety measures is shocking, and that the only guarantee for workers seems to be divine protection. Despite repeated calls for the creation of a support fund for families of deceased workers, little has been done. Legal proceedings for justice are slow and drawn-out, often taking five to six years to reach a decision.
The root of the problem, Azemi argues, is economic desperation. Over 90% of construction workers in Kosovo live in poverty or near-social conditions, forcing them to accept dangerous jobs without proper protection. “These workers are risking their lives simply to survive,” he stated.
Based on statistics from 2000 to 2024, an average of 16 to 17 workers die each year due to workplace incidents. But 2025 is already proving to be one of the deadliest years, with eight fatalities recorded in just the first quarter—before the construction season has even fully begun.
The private sector, which employs more than 220,000 people in Kosovo, is the most affected. The majority of fatal incidents have occurred in private enterprises, where oversight is often weak or non-existent. Trade union representatives are urging both companies and government institutions to increase workplace safety measures immediately.
Workplace safety is legally governed by two key pieces of legislation in Kosovo: the Labor Law and the Law on Safety at Work, Protection of Employee Health, and the Working Environment. However, enforcement remains minimal. Penalties for violations range from as little as €100 to a maximum of €35,000—amounts considered insufficient to drive real change.
Moreover, the annual report of the Ombudsperson has documented widespread labor rights violations in both the public and private sectors. These include illegal terminations, discriminatory practices, excessive working hours without compensation, denial of annual and maternity leave, and unpaid wages.
Kosovo’s labor environment is in crisis, and the recent spate of deaths must serve as a wake-up call. Without urgent institutional reforms, stronger enforcement of labor laws, and protection for vulnerable workers, the loss of life in the workplace is likely to continue unabated.