One of the key changes requires employers to register paid job vacancies with the relevant employment and skills institution and publicly disclose the salary range for each available position.

Under the proposed legislation, until Albania’s accession to the European Union, employers will be required to hire at least one person from designated vulnerable groups for every 125 employees. For each additional 125 employees, another person from these categories must be hired.

Employers failing to meet the required quotas would be required to contribute to the Social Employment Fund an amount equal to 50% of the national minimum wage per month for each position that should have been filled under the law.

The measures are part of a broader labour market reform package designed to increase employment opportunities for vulnerable groups, strengthen active employment policies and bring Albania’s regulatory framework closer to EU standards.

The draft law also introduces the creation of a Digital Employment and Skills Passport, an electronic record containing an individual’s professional history, including employment periods, occupation, qualifications and work experience. The system would be managed through a platform integrated with state databases.

Another proposed measure is the establishment of a Labour Market and Skills Information Observatory, which would require institutions holding labour market data to share information electronically through an integrated database.

The legislation also provides the legal framework for Albania’s gradual integration into EURES, the European network of employment services that connects jobseekers and employers across European markets.

The national employment and skills authority would serve as Albania’s EURES Coordination Office, responsible for transmitting job vacancies and, with applicants’ consent, sharing candidate profiles and applications.

The creation of the national structure could begin once the law enters into force, while full participation and data exchange with the European network would take place following Albania’s EU membership or earlier if the country receives authorisation to join EURES.

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The objective is to ensure equal access to justice for everyone in compliance with the European Union requirements as part of the ongoing EU accession negotiations.

Ergys Qirici, General Director of the Directorate of Free Legal Aid at the Ministry of Justice, told an interview with the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) on Sunday that ensuring access to justice for the marginalized and vulnerable society groups is key priority and a core aspect as Albania has already embarked on the EU accession negotiations with the first intergovernmental conference having been opened on October 15 with the Chapter 23, or the Fundamentals’ Cluster.

In this context – he went on saying – marginalized social groups, people in need who cannot afford legal assistance, are entitled to benefiting it for free through legal aid teams.

He noted that legal aid offices now offer their assistance in accordance to the new judicial map, significantly improving access to justice for everyone.

“Low-income families and individuals, who receive social assistance, domestic violence victims, victims of sexual abuse, victims of human trafficking, minor victims, children living in social care institutions, persons who benefit from disability payments, persons who benefit from blind status are all entitled to benefiting legal assistance for free,” Qirici said.

He explained that UNDP is assisting Albanian government Albania’s efforts toward proving access to justice for poor and disadvantaged groups as part of aligning national policy framework with EU laws and standards.

Qirici said that UNDP has established 14 free legal aid centres in various regions of Albania, including Durres, Fier, Pogradec, Dibra, Shkodra, Lezha, Gjirokastra, Vlora, Elbasan, Berat, Kukes, and Korça. UNDP provides financial assistance to six free legal aid centres currently, while the rest are supported by the Ministry of Justice.

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