Strengthening journalism for fair work: Reporting on labour rights and migration
In Kosovo’s evolving labour market, where the movement of workers across borders is growing rapidly, the way we talk and report about work and migration matters greatly. Media reporting plays a key role in shaping public understanding of labour rights, fair recruitment, and the conditions that define decent work, while also empowering the workforce.
GIZ on behalf of the German government, together with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Kosovo Labour Inspectorate, and the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, recently brought together more than 20 journalists from across the country for a two-day training in the beautiful mountain range of Brezovica. The workshop focused on improving how labour rights, migration, and workplace safety are covered in the media - promoting accuracy, ethics, and a rights-based approach to reporting.
The discussions went beyond the technical aspects of journalism. Participants reflected on how labour law enforcement and responsible reporting are interconnected, influencing how society perceives workers’ rights and the challenges faced by local, and especially, migrant workers. In Kosovo, where thousands of workers are employed abroad and where foreign labour is gradually becoming part of the domestic economy, the need for balanced and informed reporting has never been greater.
“As Kosovo has become a hub for migrant workers, it is important to have more qualitative reporting, careful language, and professionalism,” noted Besiana Beha from Gazeta Nacionale, underlining the growing need for nuanced coverage that informs rather than sensationalizes.
For many participants, the workshop was also a reminder that journalism can humanize complex issues. As Iliri Pireva from Geopost online media put it, the space created by the organizers allowed participants to share not only professional insights but also “human experiences that mean a lot for our work as journalists.” That human dimension, the stories behind the statistics, is what gives journalism its power to drive understanding and change.
This training formed part of a broader partnership between GIZ Kosovo and the ILO, which supports public dialogue on decent working conditions and helps strengthen labour rights enforcement across institutions and the private sector. It also set the stage for the upcoming Labour Rights Journalism Award, which will recognize excellence in reporting on migration topics.
By connecting policy, enforcement and storytelling, the initiative reaffirmed an essential truth; strong labour laws need strong journalism. Journalism that informs, questions, and inspires action toward a fairer world of work. Particularly important as Kosovo continues to align its labour standards with EU practices and address new dynamics in its labour market.
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the GIZ-implemented project on development-oriented migration in Kosovo is part of a global programme active in 14 partner countries. It supports, among others, diaspora engagement and the mitigation of precarious working conditions. By utilizing a gender-sensitive approach, the initiative strengthens protection mechanisms for migrant workers, promotes fair and ethical recruitment, while also fostering cooperation between public institutions, civil society, and the diaspora for sustainable engagement and decent work.