Orgesta Jusufi

**Orgesta Jusufi** (born 24 October 1965) is a Notoshan lawyer and politician who served as minister of labour in the first Xhanari cabinet from 2000 until 2004. She is a member of the New Notosha Party (PRRN).

Jusufi was born in Çelisekë to a middle-class family, and completed her secondary school education in 1983. After graduating, she moved to Astina to enroll in the University of Astina, graduating with her law degree in 1988. After graduating, Jusufi began a career as an employment litigator, representing individuals initiating lawsuits against their employers on the grounds of workplace discrimination or harassment. She joined the Asbanian law firm Lazami & Associates, which became known as the premier law firm for initiating law suits against Alaslavian employers for discrimination against their Asbanian employees. In 1995, she became a partner at the firm, and served as lead counsel on a number of workplace discrimination lawsuits filed on behalf of Asbanian workers.

Following the conclusion of the Notosha War (1997–2000), Jusufi was nominated by Zgur Xhanari to serve as minister of labour in his first cabinet. She later took office on 16 November 2000, and served until the dissolution of the cabinet on 21 October 2004. After leaving the government, Jusufi joined the Asbanian law firm Dragusha Disputes, where she leads a practice focused on employment litigation defense on behalf of Asbanian companies.

## Early life and education

Jusufi was born on 24 October 1965 in Çelisekë – then known as Čelisekija – to parents Mahmut Jusufi (born 14 July 1936) and Xhiqëlorë Nexhepi (1938–1982). Jusufi's father worked as an attorney, while her mother was a homemaker; her mother later died of breast cancer in 1982, when Jusufi was 16 years old. The family was upper-middle class, and Jusufi was raised as the elder of two daughters; her younger sister was Sabina (1967–1997), who was killed by Lorbian shelling in the Notosha War (1997–2000).

Jusufi began her education in 1971, attending a private, primary school for girls in Çelisekë. While in school, Jusufi had a close relationship with her father, and aspired to become a lawyer like him. She graduated from primary school in 1979, and afterwards enrolled in a private, secondary school for girls, where she was a gifted and popular student, being elected class president in her final year. While in school, Jusufi was introduced to the Asbanian nationalist movement. After graduating from secondary school in 1983, Jusufi moved to Astina to enroll in the University of Astina, graduating with her law degree in 1988.

## Law career

After finishing her legal education in 1988, Jusufi was hired as a junior associate at the Asbanian law firm Lazami & Associates, based out of its Astina office. While at the firm, Jusufi developed a practice focused on employment litigation, where she represented clients initiating lawsuits against their employers for discrimination or workplace harassment. Throughout the Asbanian world, Lazami & Associates was renown as the premier law firm for representing clients in Asbanophobia-related workplace discrimination and harassment cases, with many of Jusufi's cases falling within this scope.

Jusufi became a managing associate at the firm in 1991, a senior associate in 1994, and later made partner in 1995. As a partner at the firm, Jusufi developed a practice focused on employment litigation matters, while also counseling clients on their rights within the workplace. Following the outbreak of the Notosha War in 1997, Jusufi transferred to the firm's Evrexhë office in Asbania. She returned to Astina following the war's conclusion in 2000. Jusufi left Lazami & Associates later that year, in order to enter politics.

After ending her political career in 2004, Jusufi rejoined Lazami & Associates, where she rebuilt her employment litigation practice. In 2006, she left to join Asbanian corporate law firm Dragusha Disputes as a partner, where she developed a practice defending Asbanian companies in employment litigation, in addition to counseling employers on their employment-related legal needs. In 2013, Jusufi joined the management committee of the firm, before joining the firm's board of directors in 2016.

## Labour minister

   Jusufi began her political career in 2000, after she was nominated by Zgur Xhanari to serve as labour minister in his first cabinet, becoming the inaugural labour minister. During the 2000 general election, Jusufi also campaigned for the New Notosha Party. Jusufi was reportedly one of several Notoshan employment attorneys interviewed by Xhanari and his aides for the position, and Jusufi was nominated due to her history representing Notosha Asbanians in discrimination and harassment lawsuits against Lorbian employers. In the position, Jusufi was tasked with overseeing national labour standards, labour dispute mechanisms, employment, workforce participation, retirement and pensions, and welfare. She also oversaw a number of government agencies such as the Notoshan Social Insurance Agency and the Notoshan Employment Exchange.

As labour minister, Jusufi was tasked with introducing national labour and employment standards for the first time, while also implementing Notosha's first ever social insurance system. Jusufi initially received positive reception from the Notoshan public, but public reception began to sour in September 2004, with the emergence of union-backed labour strikes throughout the country. In response to the protests, Jusufi met with employers and employers' associations, giving advice on how to quell the protests. Jusufi received widespread criticism for her response to the protests, additionally receiving condemnation from Xhanari and several other members of the government. Jusufi reportedly tendered her resignation to Xhanari later that month, although he rejected her resignation. Following the dissolution of the first Xhanari cabinet the following month, Jusufi was not renominated as labour minister and instead left politics.

## Personal life

Jusufi began dating Asbanian lawyer Andi Bardiçi in 1999. Following the conclusion of the Notosha War in 2000, Jusufi returned to Astina while Bardiçi remained in Evrexhë, and they continued their relationship long-distance. Jusufi and Bardiçi later became engaged the following year, and Bardiçi relocated to Astina afterwards. They married in June 2002.

Jusufi and Bardiçi have one daughter together: Xhiqëlorë (born 2004). The family resides in Astina, while they also own a home in Evrexhë.