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Collaboration of State Labour Inspectorate with trade unions, a precondition for prevention and elimination of child labour in Albania
(From the Round Table organised in Tirana)

During the Round Table on child labour prevention and elimination, organised on 27 and 28 February 2009, in the presence of the representative of State Labour Inspectorate, trade union representatives raised some problems related to the need of better coordination and collaboration between them in the process of joint efforts to prevent and eliminate child labour in Albania.

As a follow up of that session, with the initiative of Labour Inspectorate and both our education trade unions, supported financially by FSASH and SPASH, an important round table was organised on Friday, 27 March, in the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, with wide participation of representatives from Ministry of Labour, especially from Labour Inspectorate and Labour Relations Directorates, Ministry of Education, trade unions, especially those from construction, health care, agriculture, shoes and garment, commerce), employers organisations and so on.

Vice Minister of Labour, Kastriot Sulko, Director of Labour Relations, Bujar Cani, Director of Labour Inspectorate, Thoma Melo, representative of Ministry of Labour Novruz Ahmeti, National Manager of ILO-IPEC in Tirana, Etleva Vertopi,  chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania, KSSH, Kol Nikollaj, chairman of SPASH, Bajram Kruja, took also part and contributed to the proceedings of this round table.

The main presentation was held by the representative of State Labour Inspectorate, Mrs. Evis Qaja, who asked for more information from the trade unions about the informal economy in the respective sectors and made some concrete proposals about joint efforts and common actions especially regarding the identification of children between 14 and 18 years old working in their respective sectors, implementation of existing legislation, and involving other partners in these efforts.

Following, on behalf of education trade unions, Mr. Xhafer Dobrushi spoke about the engagement of teachers and trade union activists, especially in 6 prefectures, involving also other branch trade unions, also mentioning the direct contribution of Dutch trade unions, FNV and AOb.

Discussions from other representatives, (Etleva Vertopi, Kole Nikollaj, Thoma Melo, Nevrus Ahmeti etc.), were focused on their respective organisations possibilities to be part of this joint engagement, aiming progressive elimination of child labour in Albania.

Considering really important such collaboration also in the district levels, one of the most important conclusions was commitment of both Labour Inspectorate and education trade unions to organise such round tables also in prefectures’ levels, with participation of respective local stakeholders.

More than 10 TV channels attended the event and broadcast news about the engagement of trade unions and their collaboration with labour Inspectorate and other stakeholders in child labour prevention and elimination, mentioning also the contribution of FNV and AOb, in the results achieved.

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