Regional Project for Labour Relations and Social Dialogue in South East Europe January 2011 Annual Review 2010 on Labour Relations and Social Dialogue in South East Europe: Albania By Minella Mano* Content Executive summary Socio-economic developments Governmental policies and legislation Industrial relations Tripartite social dialogue Forecasts Annex- Information about: Collective bargaining, social dialogue, social security, education& vocational train­ing, employment, wages Trade unions and employers’ organizations * Dr. Minella Mano, Physician, Director of the Labour Relations Studies Institute(I.S.M.P) © Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Regional Project for Labour Relations and Social Dialogue in South East Europe Tadeusa Koscuska 8/5 11000 Belgrade, Serbia E-Mail: fes@fessoe.de Internet: www.fessoe.de The text is available online: www.fessoe.de The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Friedrich-Ebert­Stiftung or of the organization for which the author works. 1. Executive summary Albania is still undergoing a transitional process(20 years), and it seems difficult for our country to leave behind this difficult stage. This keeps bringing more and more chal­lenges to its citizens, both in the economic and social aspects. Developments were obstructed also by the latest world financial crisis, which had a negative impact in some of the industries in our country. However, some important reforms have been under­taken, also in the frame of the process of European and Regional Integration during the last years. These reforms have opened some perspectives to the country in the field of education, health, public administration/police, etc. The SAA(Stabilization and Association Agreement) entered into force on April 1, 2009, after being ratified by 25 member states of the EU, which were part of the community at the moment of SAA signing and its approval by the Albanian Parliament. That is why,