Country profile ALB
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 5-17 | 3.4 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2010 | 5-17 | 2.1 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2010 | 5-17 | 2.8 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2010 | 5-14 | 3.6 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2010 | 5-14 | 3 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2010 | 5-14 | 3.3 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 1995-01-27 | C182 | Criminal Code - Section 129 and Sections 283–285 | [{"link_name":"Criminal Code","source_link":"https://adsdatabase.ohchr.org/IssueLibrary/ALBANIA_Criminal%20Code.pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Section 129 of the Penal Code punishes anyone who induces or encourages minors under 14 to criminality and Sections 283–285 deal with a range of drug-related offences. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 1995-01-27 | C182 | Criminal Code - Section 117 | [{"link_name":"Criminal Code","source_link":"https://adsdatabase.ohchr.org/IssueLibrary/ALBANIA_Criminal%20Code.pdf"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Law No. 9859, “On amendments to the Penal Code” of 21 January 2008, Section 117 of the Penal Code was amended to prohibit the use of minors (all persons under 18 years of age) for the production of pornographic materials. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2023 | C182 | Law on Military Service, No. 9047 | [{"link_name":"-Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child","source_link":"https://www.refworld.org/docid/4988067c32.html"},{"link_name":"-Law on Military Service, No. 9047","source_link":"https://www.mod.gov.al/images/akteligjore/statusi/2025/ligj-9047-p%C3%ABrdit%C3%ABsuar.pdf"}] | N/A | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | There is no conscription. The minimum age for voluntary service in the armed forces is 18. In its initial report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the government said that the minimum age for conscription was 19, under the 1991 Law No. 7527 on Military Service in the Armed Forces, as amended. Conscripts must serve for 12 months and exemptions are permitted on the grounds of ill health, although are reportedly difficult to obtain in practice. Higher education students may postpone their service until completion of their studies. In May 2003, President Alfred Moisiu vetoed an amendment to the Law on Military Service that would have exempted students from service if they completed their higher education by 31 December 2005, on the grounds that it violated constitutional guarantees of equality before the law. Subsequently an amendment was approved that required graduates to complete one month of compulsory military service. The minimum age for voluntary service in the armed forces is 18. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 1995-01-27 | C182 | CEACR Observation | [{"link_name":"CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:3184761,102532"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | In an Observation published in 2015, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) noted that Act No. 144 of 2013 modifies the Penal Code to increase the penalties for crimes against children, including crimes related to trafficking. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2020-06-17 | C138 & C182 | Decision No. 479/2020 of 17 June 2020 amending the Decision No. 108/2017 of 15 February 2017 on the approval of the regulation on the protection of children at work | [{"link_name":"Decision No. 479/2020","source_link":"https://natlex.ilo.org/dyn/natlex2/r/natlex/fe/details?p3_isn=115623"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | The national determination of a list of hazardous work in which children under 18 years of age are prohibited to participate. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2015-12-05 | C138 & C182 | Labour Code - Article 100 | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://wipolex-res.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/al/al066en.html"}] | 18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Article 100 provides that only the adults over 18 years of age may be employed to carry out difficult jobs or jobs that pose danger for their health or personality. The difficult or dangerous jobs and special rules on their duration and conditions of performing them are stipulated by a decision of the Council of Ministers. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | N/A | C138 | Proposed amendment to the labour Code | [{"link_name":"CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:3338765,102532"}] | 14 | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | According to the CEACR comments, "The Committee previously noted that, according to section 3 of Decree No. 384, as amended by Decree No. 205, minors under 14 years of age may be engaged in the vocational training system authorized by the State Labour Inspectorate. The Committee further noted that it seemed that children under 14 years of age could be authorized to undertake practical internships, in contradiction with Article 6 of the Convention which authorizes work to be carried out by persons aged at least 14 years. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s information concerning proposed amendments to the Labour Code and Decree No. 205 which will increase the minimum age to participate in the vocational training programme to at least 14 years. " |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2012 | C138 | Law on Pre-University Education System in the Republic of Albania, No. 69 - Article 22 | [{"link_name":"Law on Pre-University Education System in the Republic of Albania, No. 69","source_link":"https://www.acce.al/sites/default/files/download/laws/Law%20for%20pre-university%20education%20in%20the%20Republic%20of%20Albania%20%282012%29.pdf"}] | Yes | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | Article 22 provides that a) The full time initial education is mandatory for all the children, being Albanian citizens residing in the Republic of Albania from the age of six through to the age of sixteen, with the exception of the cases provided for in this law. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | N/A | C138 | Proposed amendment to the labour Code | [{"link_name":"CEACR Direct Request","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:3338765,102532"}] | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | In its Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017 on the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) the committee noted "The Government’s information concerning proposed amendments to identify such activities and to determine the maximum duration and conditions of such work.". The national legal framework of Albania does not determine types and conditions under which light work may be allowed. |
| Minimum age for light work | 2015-12-05 | C138 | Labour Code - Article 98 (3), Article 99 (2) | [{"link_name":"Labour Code","source_link":"https://wipolex-res.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/al/al066en.html"}] | 15-16 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | Article 98 (3) stipulates that, exceptionally, children from 15 to 16 years of age may be employed during school vacations, only in easy jobs, according to the stipulations in article 99 of this Code. Article 99 (2) adds that, according to the meaning of this Code, an “easy job” is that job, which due to the inseparable nature of the duties and the special conditions under which it is performed, does not impinge: i) safety, health and the development of children; ii) the participation of children in school, in instructive vocational or training programs adopted by the responsible institutions, or the capacity of the children to benefit from this education. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2017-02-23 | C138 | Law No. 18 on the Rights and Protection of the Child - Article 24 (2) | [{"link_name":"Law No. 18 on the Rights and Protection of the Child","source_link":"https://observator.org.al/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Layout-A5-english_18May2017.pdf"}] | 16 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | According to Article 24 (2), employment of children under the age of 16 shall be prohibited. The child may perform any work that does not harm health and development of the child, or interfere with the child’s education, in accordance with the provisions foreseen in the Labour Code. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 02-AUG-2001 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 16-FEB-1998 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania is a Pathfinder Country of the Alliance 8.7, a global partnership committed to eradicating forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking, and child labour. As part of this initiative, Albania initiated the development of a roadmap towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7. This roadmap outlines the strategic objectives and actions necessary to make significant progress in these areas. The main objectives of Albania's roadmap are focused around trafficking Prevent the economic exploitation of children, including children in street situation Ensure protection and intervention according to the needs of children at risk or in economic use Increasing the number of successful criminal cases related to the economic exploitation of children, the obligation to work; Protection of children's rights by law enforcement structures Social and cultural barriers that promote economic exploitation have decreased | [{"link_name":"SDG 8.7 Roadmap","source_link":"https://www.alliance87.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/6_Albania_Report%20of%20Meeting%20and%20Action%20Plan.pdf"}] | (Date not specified) | SDG 8.7 Roadmap | State Agency for the Rights and Protection of the Child (ASHMDF) |
| The Action Plan for Children (2012–15) and the Action Plan for the Decade of Roma Inclusion (2010–15), both of which aim to, among others, register and increase the attendance and participation of Roma children in kindergarten and compulsory education. It also noted the various legislative and institutional reforms that have been carried out concerning the admission and attendance of Roma children, as well as its programme of cooperation with UNICEF to provide incentives to Roma children to attend school. It noted, however, from the 2012 assessment report carried out by the National Inspectorate of Pre-University Education (IKAP), with UNICEF assistance, on the implementation of the “The Second Chance” programme that despite the Government’s programmes to increase school attendance, the number of Roma children who attended school remained at very low figures. | [{"link_name":"CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO::P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_LANG_CODE:3184761,en:NO"}] | 2012-2015 | The Action Plan for Children | National Council for Protection of Children’s Rights (NCPCR) |