The Institute for Research and Human Rights (IHDNj) has launched a petition today as part of the project “The Invisible Workers of the Underground: For an Official List of Occupational Diseases for Kosovo’s Miners.”
According to the announcement published by the Independent Trade Union of Trepça Miners, the petition aims to request responsible institutions to draft and approve the Official List of Occupational Diseases.
“A crucial step that would enable:
- Legal recognition of diseases caused by mining work,
- Adequate healthcare treatment for affected workers,
- Proper financial compensation for damages and losses,
- The possibility of early retirement when required by health conditions,
- Urgent preventive measures to reduce risks,
- Monitoring mechanisms for long-term protection of the health of active and retired miners,” the statement says.
It is noted that the project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and implemented by the Community Development Fund (CDF).
“The activities of IHDNj aim to strengthen miners’ rights through documentation of occupational diseases. The petition continues IHDNj’s work in documenting violations of miners’ rights and demonstrating the urgent need for creating this list,” the announcement states.
The Trade Union emphasizes that for many miners, occupational diseases are not mere statistics—they are daily realities affecting their lives, dignity, well-being, and families. “Therefore, this issue must be treated as a clear priority,” the Union says.
