Support the Public Statement for Fair and Sufficient Living Wages in Albania

Living a decent life does not mean having shelter and food, but also being able to save money at the end of the month.

The living wage in Albania according to a Clean Clothes Campaign study in 2018 was 104,980 ALL, the minimum required for a worker to afford a good standard of living for themselves and their family. https://shorturl.at/X5YMm It includes the basic needs of workers and their families, such as food, clothing, housing, public transport, utilities, telecommunication, education, health care, leisure and cultural activities, allowing for discretionary income up to 10% of the wage. A living wage is a fundamental human right!

Meanwhile, in our country, according to INSTAT data for the second quarter of 2024, the average gross salary is 75,114 ALL per person and 25.8% of employees in Albania receive minimum wages; in other words, they are paid 35,520 ALL at the end of the month.

To truly live a decent life, the current minimum net salary (35,520 ALL) is not enough, it is just survival.

Establishing a living wage is an urgent need to ensure that Albanian families can live a decent life and have the opportunity to meet their basic needs.

The Clean Clothes Campaign network has joined forces with partners and allies around the world to mark the first ever Living Wage Day on September 25, 2024. The main goal is to initiate a global movement dedicated to ensuring that all workers in every country of the world receive a salary that meets their basic needs. The "Gender Alliance for Development" Center has joined this initiative, receiving support from other Albanian organizations and trade unions as well.

We invite you to support the Public Statement for Fair and Sufficient Living Wages in Albania, as a necessity for social welfare and justice.

If you have not yet read the statement, please find it here: https://gadc.org.al/media/66ff976e8ba6e.pdf

Support the demand for a wage that meets the basic needs of workers by filling out the form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyyx7fhdOs4cOk-ug7ZNaehamtxv_9nXtQSeeiZmcuUNUu2A/viewform or send your support by sending an email to [email protected]

This statement calls for immediate action by all stakeholders in Albanian society, including the government, employers, trade unions and civil society organizations, to prioritize the implementation of a living wage.