Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Monday another raise to the minimum wage could be imminent to help selected groups combat the increased cost of living.
Albania is one of Europe’s poorest countries and currently, half of the population is either in poverty or at risk of falling into it. The cost of living has soared since the COVID-19 pandemic and was further exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Data from the Albanian national statistics agency INSTAT reported that in 2021-2022, 12.6% of Albanians in employment are also at risk of falling into poverty. Among unemployed people, the risk of poverty is higher and reaches 39%; among pensioners, it is lower at around 14%.
“I have not stopped communicating with my team, especially with finance for new support policies. Starting from new minimum wages to wages for special categories of human resources, housing support for doctors, soldiers, policemen who have a new family,” he said.
Rama added that while previous assistance packages have helped, those living on minimum wage are still struggling.
“There is no doubt that it is still necessary, especially with those who work with minimum wage in the private sector, especially those in production who should be paid more and as soon as possible,” he said.
No timeline was given for the increases, other than they would be announced soon.
Albania is set to go to the polls in April in local elections which will see the return of the opposition Democratic Party following their boycott of the 2019 municipal vote.
(Alice Taylor | Exit.al)
Source: euractiv.com
