Kosovo’s current maternity leave funding scheme is seen as a factor deepening inequalities in the labor market. In this context, calls have been made for the state to cover a larger share of the costs and for fathers’ rights to paid leave to be expanded.
These issues were discussed at a roundtable organized by the Riinvest Institute and the Women’s Economic Forum (FEG), focused on the topic “Reviewing gender-responsive family policies in Kosovo: Financial implications, regional practices and policy alternatives.”
Të lidhura
None found
Saxhide Mustafa, coordinator of the Women’s Economic Forum, said Kosovo still has the lowest level of women’s participation in the European labor market. She said maternity leave funding and limited leave options for fathers have created inequalities that need to be addressed.
According to Mustafa, the costs associated with maternity leave should not become an obstacle to women’s employment, careers or economic independence. She called for the government to play a greater role in establishing a sustainable funding mechanism.
“For a decade, our advocacy has been grounded in evidence, and today we face the fact that women in Kosovo have the lowest labor force participation in Europe. Kosovo provides for 12 months of maternity leave, but the way it is funded and fathers’ limited rights have created inequalities that require attention and solutions. Motherhood should not economically penalize women. Maternity leave costs should not put employment at risk through discriminatory practices, or jeopardize women’s professional advancement or economic independence. Childcare is the responsibility of both parents. Paid paternity leave and parental leave are practical tools for a more equal sharing of family responsibilities and for achieving genuine equality in the labor market. The government should strengthen its role in creating a fair and sustainable funding system, in cooperation with employers and employees,” Mustafa said.
Andin Hoti, Minister of Labor, Family and Values of the Liberation War, acknowledged that the current system has difficulties and that calls to improve it are reasonable.
“The current model clearly has its challenges, and some of the calls for changes are reasonable. However, any intervention in this area directly affects families, employers and public finances. For this reason, discussions like these are essential to better understand the alternatives and the real possibilities for creating a fair and affordable model,” Hoti said.
Visare Mujko-Nimani, head of the UNFPA Office in Kosovo, said family policies should be seen as an investment in family well-being, the advancement of gender equality and economic development.
She noted that employers face a substantial financial burden during the first six months of maternity leave. At the same time, fathers are entitled to only three days of paid leave after a child is born. According to Mujko-Nimani, this situation limits women’s employment opportunities and perpetuates the traditional division of responsibilities within the family.
“In Kosovo, the administration and funding of maternity leave, paternity leave and parental leave continue to be associated with significant inequalities and difficulties. Under the current system, employers bear most of the financial burden for the first six months of maternity leave, while fathers are entitled to only 3 days of paid leave after a child is born. This creates a clear inequality,” she said.
