NEW COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT SIGNED

BETWEEN

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

AND EDUCATION TRADE UNIONS, TUFESA AND ITUAE

 

The new Collective Agreement was signed, on the 25th of May, between the Ministry of Education and Science of Albania and both education trade unions, TUFESA and ITUAE. Representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science, headed by the Minister Mr. Myqerem Tafaj, from the Trade Union Federation of Education and Science of Albania, TUFESA, headed by the Chairman, Mr. Xhafer Dobrushi and from the Independent Trade Union of Albanian education, headed by the Chairman, Mr. Bajram Kruja took part in the respective ceremony, organised in one of the meeting rooms of the Ministry of Education and Science.

 

 

Through a long time negotiating process, lasting some months, both parts agreed to renew the existing Collective Agreement, making to it important changes and improvements, in accordance with the new social and economic conditions of the country and especially of the educational sector, as well as based on the contemporary development demands. This Collective Agreement will be in power until 31 december 2014.

 

 

Having the floor in this ceremony, the Minister of Education and Science, Mr. Myqerem Tafaj, considered this Agreement an important step forward in the process of the development of the education system in Albania, as well as regarding the relations with the education trade unions.

He pointed out that through this Agreement are regulated in the best way possible the labour relations of all teachers and other employees of this sector, including employment criteria, teachers qualification, wages and other remunerations, working conditions, working time, and so on. He appreciated all the trade union work to support teachers, because for the Ministry as well, teachers have been and will continue to be the most important factor of the reform of education sector. By entering into power of the Collective Agreement, pointed out the Minister, teachers will not be retired, in all the cases when the school year has less than two months from ending. Along with the trade unions, the Ministry is also working to approve the Code of Ethics for teachers as well as the Status for teachers, which aim to identify and empower the role of teachers in our educational system.

 

Following he appreciated the role and contribution of education trade unions in the developments of the educational sector and social and economic protection of teachers and education sector employees in general and expressed once more the commitment of the Ministry for a real partnership and for the continuance of the effective collaboration with education trade unions, TUFESA and ITUAE.

 

 

Having the floor, on behalf of both education trade unions, the Chairman of TUFESA. Mr. Xhafer Dobrushi, appreciated the moment of signing this Collective Agreement as the top of institutional long time time, more than 15 years, effective collaboration of education trade unions with the Ministry of Education and Science. He pointed out that this Agreement has many new important elements regarding social and economic protection of teachers and other employees of educational sector, including private schools and higher education sector, especially regarding labour relations and trade union rights.
An important element of this Agreement, he mentioned, is the harmonisation of social and economic interests protection for trade union members and teachers in general with the process of the reform in education system, considering these parts as a whole process of educational system development in our country.
He also mentioned the responsibility of both education trade unions to follow and implement all the items of the Agreement, fulfilling also all the obligations they have according ton this Agreement.

 

A considerable number of media representatives, present in the ceremony, followed with special interest this event and broadcast the news in the main electronic and written media.

It is also important that, according to a special plan, joint meetings will be organised with local educational Directorates and trade union representatives in order to make known and explain;ain the main items of this Collective Agreement, being also focused on the indispensability of its correct implementation.