Third cooperation programme between Albania and the ILO to promote decent work

Third cooperation programme between Albania and the ILO to promote decent work

The third “Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP)” of Albania for the 2012 – 2015 period promotes decent work as a key to national development and European integration and is based on the previous successful cooperation between the ILO and Albania.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Mr Spiro Ksera, Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Mr Gëzim Kalaja and Mr Avenir Kika, deputy Chairs of the National Labour Council, representatives of workers and employers’ organizations, and by Mr Mark Levin, Director of Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Central and Eastern Europe (DWT/CO-Budapest).

The Programme, which was developed together with of the Albanian government, trade unions and employers’ organization, focuses on three jointly agreed key priorities:

• Strengthening capacity of government institutions and the social partners to improve the governance of the labour market;
• Promoting of decent work and enhancing employability of the Albanian labour force; and
• Strengthening social protection system.

The Minister considered the programme as “an important support to Albania in its road to the European integration” aiming to implement decent work in the country.

Representatives of workers and employers’ organizations confirmed that the implementation of this programme will help Albania to create more and better jobs. They highlighted that the signature of the partnership agreement represents a confirmation of common desire to promote standards of decent work in the country.

The results and lessons learnt from implementation of the previous Decent Work Country Programmes and their assessments by social partners have also been taken into account.

DWCP for 2012-2015 is in line with the key priorities of the Government of Albania and UN Programme of Cooperation 2012-2016 and will contribute towards achievement of its goals. This programme will also make an important contribution to the implementation of national development objectives based on the Millennium Development Goals and the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union.