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Home Work Convention, 1996 (No. 177) - Albania (RATIFICATION: 2002)

Articles 3 and 5 of the Convention. National policy on home work. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that a national policy on home work aimed at improving the situation of homeworkers has not yet been adopted. It recalls that Article 3 of the Convention specifically requires the adoption, implementation and periodical review of such a policy with a view to adapting labour and employment laws and practices to the special characteristics of home work and the specific needs of homeworkers. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to take the necessary steps in order to initiate the process for the formulation of a national policy on home work, in consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers.

Article 4(f). Equality of treatment. Access to training. The Committee notes that the Labour Code (Act No. 7961 of 12 July 1995), as amended, appears to contain no provisions specifically regulating the vocational training of workers, but understands that the Instruction of the Ministry of Education and Science No. 40 of 17 October 2007 deals with matters related to vocational education and training. It therefore requests the Government to transmit a copy of the Vocational Education and Training Instruction, and to provide additional explanations on any training programmes specifically designed for homeworkers.

Article 6. Statistics on home work. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, at present, there are no statistical data available specifically on home work and homeworkers. In this connection, the Committee recalls that detailed information on all aspects of homeworking, including data classified by sex or age, is a necessary prerequisite for the formulation and implementation of a national policy on home work. The Committee therefore requests the Government to make every possible effort to put into place suitable arrangements for the collection of reliable statistical data on the extent and characteristics of home work.

Article 7. Coverage of the occupational safety and health legislation. The Committee would appreciate receiving a copy of the Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 100 of 3 February 2008 on hazardous substances, to which the Government refers in its report.

Article 9, paragraph 1. Labour inspection. The Committee notes that section 13(1) of Act No. 9634 of 30 October 2006 on Labour Inspection and State Labour Inspectorate provides that the labour inspector equipped with the legitimacy card is authorized to enter the workplaces of every subject, except for the residence, without prior notice at any hour of the day or night, whereas section 13(2) provides that the labour inspector is authorized to enter the location that serves as private residence if there are enough indices or legal reasons provided that the General Inspector is duly informed. Recalling that the Convention requires a system of inspection consistent with national law and practice concerning respect for privacy, the Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the supervision and control of home work and any particular enforcement measures that may have been adopted in this respect.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee requests the Government to continue supplying information on the practical application of the Convention, including, for instance, copies of official surveys or annual reports of agencies and institutions monitoring developments on homeworking, inspection results specific to home work, up to date statistics on the number of homeworkers, labour market trends with special reference to home work, etc.