The 13th salary, which will be paid for the first time this year, is not necessarily being seen as an increase in purchasing power.
At least that is the view of public sector unions, who are the only beneficiaries of these payments.
At a time when inflation in Kosovo has recorded an average increase of about 6 percent, and when fuel prices have recently risen while a possible increase in electricity tariffs is also being warned about, this additional payment risks being quickly spent on everyday needs.
According to workers’ representatives, the 13th salary is a welcome support, but it is not enough to cope with the economic crisis and the continuous rise in prices.
They even say that a permanent salary increase would be a much more effective solution for citizens than a single payment during the year.
The chairman of the Union of Education, Science and Culture, Rrahman Jasharaj, says that the implementation of the 13th salary is a positive step, but its impact will be limited due to rising prices.
“It is good that it has finally been done. We had the 13th salary in our collective agreement as well and we feel good that after so many years it is becoming a reality. However, at a time when prices are continuously increasing, this will be a small help compared to the rise in prices. I believe it would have been better if salaries were increased, because that would be a permanent increase, while this is a one-time assistance. It will go to my colleagues from kindergartens to universities and the entire public sector, but it will largely be absorbed by rising prices. The effect of the 13th salary will fade compared to all the price increases and those that are expected. So it is assistance, but not very significant,” Jasharaj said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Firefighters’ Union, Muharrem Beka, says that this payment slightly eases the situation, but it is still not enough to cover monthly expenses.
“The 13th salary will be executed together with this month’s salary. It is an income that somewhat eases the situation, but I don’t know how satisfactory it will be because we are witnessing high inflation and rising prices lately. After the global crisis, increases in other goods are also expected. For firefighters it is an additional payment, but it is not enough and not satisfactory because firefighters have relatively low salaries and it is difficult to cover the monthly cost of living,” Beka said.
The Union of Independent Trade Unions of Kosovo also believes that the additional payment is welcome, but it does not solve the main problem.
The chairman of the BSPK, Atdhe Hykolli, says that the long-term solution would be increasing the salary coefficient, so that employees can more easily cope with the rising cost of living.
“The 13th salary is welcome because prices have increased. However, our concern as BSPK is that we must sit down and discuss the value of the coefficient, because it is low. Perhaps for the moment the 13th salary is helpful, but it should also be included in the general collective agreement. We must discuss the value of the coefficient as soon as possible. It should be increased to a level that at least somewhat eases the inflation we are experiencing. This inflation is enormous and it is very difficult for employees in Kosovo to get through a month with their current salaries. The 13th salary is a form of support, but we must discuss what we will do about the prices that continue to rise,” Hykolli emphasized.
The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) in Kosovo recorded an average increase of 6.0 percent in February 2026, compared to February 2025, while monthly inflation was 0.6 percent compared to January 2026, according to the Kosovo Agency of Statistics.
According to the agency, the annual price increase was mainly influenced by higher prices in several groups of goods and services, including services related to personal transport equipment (42.5%), airline tickets (39.0%), and water supply and other housing-related services (33.4%).
Regarding rising prices, the Kosovo Electricity Supply Company KESCO has requested from the Energy Regulatory Office ZRRE an increase of over 20 percent in electricity tariffs for 2026, citing rising operational costs and the need to ensure stable energy supply.
However, ZRRE is expected to review the request and decide whether to approve it or not.
It is worth recalling that in May 2025, ZRRE approved an increase of electricity tariffs by 16.1 percent compared to 2024.
Meanwhile, as a result of the war between the United States and Israel against Iran, fuel prices have also increased for more than two weeks, reaching about €1.5 per liter for diesel and €1.3 for gasoline.
