Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Albania (Ratification: 1957)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s comments in reply to the observations of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), received in 2020, denouncing anti-union discrimination acts in the mining sector, in particular against the chairperson of the Trade Union of United Mineworks of Bulquiza (TUUMB), and alleging the lack of adequate protection against anti-union discrimination. The Committee observes that these matters are being examined by the Committee on Freedom of Association (Case No. 3388). Noting that the Government has not provided its comments on the ITUC’s observations received in 2019, which alleged lack of adequate protection against anti-union discrimination and severe obstacles to collective bargaining, the Committee once again requests it to provide its comments in this respect.

Article 1 of the Convention. Adequate protection of workers against acts of anti-union discrimination. In its previous comments, the Committee had observed that despite the Labour Code providing for remedies in cases of anti-union discrimination, in the absence of a special jurisdiction, labour disputes were brought before ordinary courts, considerably delaying the procedures. The Committee had therefore requested the Government to provide detailed information on the practical application of the remedies for anti-union discrimination set out in the law, in particular the availability and use of any applicable enforcement mechanisms, such as judicial actions before the courts, and the duration of proceedings. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government according to which: (i) under section 9 of the Labour Code, issues of discrimination in employment and occupation are also regulated by Act on Protection from Discrimination (No. 10221 of 2010), as amended by Act No. 124 of 2020; (ii) this Act establishes the rules of proceeding for complaints against acts of discrimination before the Commissioner for Protection against Discrimination (CPD) (sections 33 and 33/1), which is an independent administrative authority, and before the court (sections 34 to 38); (iii) the amendments introduced by Act No.124 strengthen the effectiveness of the proceedings before the CPD; and (iv) in 2020, the Court System registered the existence of nine cases of discrimination, three of which gave rise to court rulings.

The Committee takes due note of this information. It also notes that the rules of procedure before both the CPD and the Court provide for an adjustment of the burden of proof in cases of alleged discrimination. At the same time, the Committee observes that the information provided by the Government on the cases of discrimination recorded by the judicial system does not indicate the nature of such cases and whether some of them refer or not to allegations of anti-union discrimination. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide detailed information on the cases of anti-union discrimination resolved or pending before the CPD or the Court and to specify the duration of the proceedings and their concrete outcome.

Article 4. Promotion of collective bargaining. In its previous comments, noting that section 161 of the Labour Code provides that a collective agreement can only be concluded at the enterprise or branch level and that no collective agreements had been concluded at the national level, the Committee had requested the Government to continue providing information on the measures to promote collective bargaining at all levels, including at the national level. In this respect, the Committee notes the Government indications that: (i) no collective agreements have been concluded between the Government and workers and employers’ representatives at the national level; (ii) between 2019 and 2020 a final total of 20 collective agreements were concluded in the tourism, food, energy and oil sectors, covering 15 per cent of workers in the private sector; those agreements still being in force as their term is from 3 to 4 years; and (iii) one collective agreement in the health sector has been registered in 2021. Recalling that Article 4 of the Convention encourages and promotes the conclusion of bipartite collective agreements on terms and conditions of employment at all levels, the Committee regrets that no amendments have been made to section 161 of the Labour Code. The Committee therefore encourages the Government to take further measures to promote collective bargaining including at the national level when the parties so desire. It further requests the Government to continue providing information on the number of collective agreements that have been concluded and that are in force, the sectors covered, and the percentage of workers covered.