The Minister of Economy, Employment, Trade, Industry, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Investments, Rozeta Hajdari, held a press conference today, informing the public and businesses about the new guidelines undertaken due to the virus COVID-19.
Minister Hajdari has emphasized that the necessary measures have been taken regarding the situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic spread, and in this regard are particularly engaged the Department of Consumer Protection, Department of State Reserves, Market Inspectorate and Labour Inspectorate.
“From the Ministry of Economy, Employment, Trade, Industry, Entrepreneurship and Strategic Investments – MEETIESI, dated 12 March 2020, pursuant to the Law on Internal Trade, Section 50.2, we have issued an Ordinance obliging economic operators not to raise prices and from which the Market Inspectorate operates, bringing in information from the field twice a day, and the good thing is that prices are under control. Whereas, for the proper implementation of the Government's decision of 13 March 2020, we have provided guidance and information from the Market Inspectorate and the Laboor Inspectorate following these written instructions and explanations to the media, which were updated over the weekend – Saturday, Sunday, according to the information received from municipal inspectors and questions asked by businesses and citizens, "said Minister Hajdari.
"The complaints were mainly about raised prices in an expeditious manner and without any criteria (especially of food). Also the Labour Inspectorate is in the field and it is bringing the reports twice a day”, emphasized the Minister.
The Minister has also mentioned the market surveillance of goods by the Market Inspectorate, which has conducted inspections in 900 business entities.
“Of these, we have found over 30 violations mainly of the price increases nature. To address these violations, measures have been taken according to the legislation in force”, said the Minister.
Whereas regarding the surveillance of the labour market, the Minister said that the Labour Inspectorate has carried out 350 inspections.
“Violations are mainly found in the lack of personal protective equipment, then disinfection of facilities and density of employees, by not respecting the recommended distance. Measures have also been taken to address these violations under the legislation in force”.
The Minister announced that has ordered the engagement of additional capacities of officials in order to better mobilize.
"We take this opportunity to thank the municipal inspectorates for the cooperation and support shown," said Minister Hajdari.
'' Whereas, with the State Reserve Department, here in the ministry, we have already made the plan for state reserves and presented it to the Minister of Finance and Transfers last week, which request will now be considered as the 2020 budget has been approved.” said Minister Hajdari.
The Minister emphasized that we would like to confirm to the citizens that the state reserves of goods are stored in our warehouses, which are completed in quantitative and qualitative terms, according to the announcement by the Director of the State Reserve Department. "Mostly there is a reserve for commodities such as: wheat, agricultural products, petroleum and medicaments."
The minister informed the media that they are in constant contact with central public enterprises and other operators providing basic services, including energy and telecommunications.
The minister said that by orders from the ministry, they have demanded full responsibility from the operators in order to meet the needs of the citizens. We also urge the citizens to fulfil their obligations (including payments for basic services, water, energy and other)”, stressed the minister.
"Of course, we are also taking measures to protect civil servants and public sector employees," added the minister.
She mentioned that they are currently meeting with:
1) KEC, KEDS, and KOSTT to discuss what measures they have taken or how much they have mobilized to manage the situation
2) Public Enterprises providing public services such as water supply, heating and waste collection and other public services
3) Businesses / through chambers and associations
The Minister emphasized that according to the assessed situation, will be dealt with in due time with concrete decisions and directives for the ministry, as well as concrete proposals for the government.
