Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Rural Workers' Organisations Convention, 1975 (No. 141) - Albania (Ratification: 2004)

Article 4 of the Convention. Policy to facilitate and promote the establishment and growth of strong and independent rural workers’ organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee had requested the Government to provide information concerning the approximate number of rural workers, the unionization rates among rural workers employed on a regular or seasonal basis, including self-employed workers, as well as sectors covered by the existing trade unions. Noting that the Government’s report contains no information on this matter, the Committee reiterates its previous request.

Article 5. Policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee had previously requested the Government to provide information on steps taken or contemplated to adopt a policy of active encouragement of rural workers’ organizations so that these organizations may play a role in the economic and social development of the country, as provided in Article 5. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that: (i) a workers’ organization, the Autonomous Trade Union of Food, Agriculture, Trade and Tourism and an employers’ organization, the Albanian Agribusiness Council, were both elected to the National Labour Council, the highest tripartite social dialogue institution in the country; (ii) within this forum, both organizations are actively involved in consultations on various reforms, including those related to labour legislation, implementation of ILO Conventions and Recommendations, social protection, employment, economic and social development programmes; (iii) given the high prevalence of self-employed workers in the agricultural sector, the Government is endeavouring to promote, through fiscal facilities and support schemes, the development of cooperatives; (iv) within the framework of the promotion and information campaigns of national and international support plans, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development conducts consultations with agricultural associations and interest groups for the development of strategies, annual support plans and legislative reforms; and (v) the Regional Agencies of Agricultural Extension in Tirana, Shkodra, Lushnje and Korça organize activities for the development of farmers’ associations, such as demonstrations, meetings, seminars and workshops. The Committee welcomes this information and requests the Government to continue to provide information on any measures or policies adopted with an aim to actively encourage the participation of rural workers’ organizations in the economic and social development of the country, in particular for women and youth in rural areas.

Article 6. Measures to promote understanding of the need to further the development of rural workers’ organizations. The Committee takes note of the Government's indication that, in the framework of the activities carried out by the Regional Agencies of Agricultural Extension in Tirana, Shkodra, Lushnje and Korça and the activities carried out to implement law no. 38/2012 on Agricultural Cooperation Companies, it promotes understanding of the benefits derived from cooperation among rural workers’ organizations. The Committee encourages the Government to continue, in consultation with rural workers’ organizations, implementing measures to promote understanding of rural workers' organizations and their contribution to the improvement of employment opportunities and general conditions of work and life in rural areas.