Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131) - Albania (Ratification: 2004)

Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention. Differentiated minimum wage rates based on age. The Committee recalls that under section 111(3) of the Labour Code, the Council of Ministers may establish differentiated minimum wage rates based on age in order to facilitate the access of young people to the labour market. The Committee once again wishes to draw the Government’s attention to the overriding principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value and therefore the need to ensure that remuneration levels are determined on the basis of objective factors such as the quantity and quality of work performed. The Committee requests the Government to clarify whether any differentiated minimum wage rates based on age are currently in force, and if so, to indicate how it is ensured that young workers are not subject to any wage discrimination as compared to adult workers when performing work of equal value.

Article 4, paragraph 2. Full consultation of social partners. The Committee notes the adoption of the Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 522 of 13 May 2009 which has raised, as from 1 May 2009, the minimum wage from 17,000 to 18,000 Albanian lek (ALL) (approximately US$195) per month, that is to say a 5.9 per cent increase. While noting the Government’s indication that the latest increase was based on the recommendation of the tripartite Wages and Pensions Commission, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide a copy of the legal instrument setting up the Wages and Pensions Commission and regulating its mandate, membership and operation. The Committee would also appreciate receiving copy of the Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 522 of 13 May 2009.

Article 5 and Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee notes the adoption of Act No. 9634 of 30 October 2006 on Labour Inspection and State Labour Inspectorate. It further notes the Government’s indication that 10,000 inspection visits were carried out in 2008 but no infringements of the minimum wage legislation were observed. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide up to date information on the practical application of the Convention, including, for instance, the approximate number of workers remunerated at the minimum wage rate, comparative statistics on the evolution of the minimum wage and of the consumer price index in recent years, extracts from reports of the labour inspection services showing the number of infringements of the minimum wage legislation observed and sanctions imposed, copies of relevant reports or surveys of the Wages and Pensions Commission, etc.