Albania advances dialogue on social protection for seasonal workers in tourism

A High-Level Tripartite Meeting in Tirana brought together around 60 representatives from government, social partners and international experts to advance policy dialogue on improving access to social protection for seasonal workers in Albania’s tourism sector.

Organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the meeting took place within the UN Joint Programme Lifelong Empowerment and Protection in Albania (LEAP), funded by the Joint SDG Fund and implemented by UNDP, UNICEF, ILO and UN Women in partnership with the Government of Albania, alongside the EU-funded Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP3).

At the centre of the discussion was a new ILO report, Improving Access to Social Protection for Seasonal Workers: Challenges and Good Practices, which highlighted a key mismatch between traditional social protection systems and the realities of seasonal work. Despite existing legal coverage, many workers face barriers due to contribution requirements, administrative challenges, informality and low awareness of rights. The analysis pointed to key policy directions, including adapting eligibility rules, simplifying access, improving benefit adequacy and promoting formalization to better align systems with labour market realities.

International experts shared practical experiences from Europe. From Greece, Ms. Tonia N. Arahova (Deputy Governor, Public Employment Service – DYPA) and Ms. Glykeria Terzi (Head of Unemployment Insurance and Social Policies Directorate, DYPA) presented tailored benefits and seasonal allowances to bridge income gaps. From Spain, Mr. Juan Manuel Callejas González de Mendoza (Deputy Director General for Unemployment Benefits, SEPE) highlighted the fixed-discontinuous contract, ensuring continuity of employment and access to benefits. From Italy, Ms. Giulia Palombella (Head of Central Directorate for International Relations, INPS) showcased a system combining flexibility with strong worker protections and enforcement. From Portugal, Ms. Andreia Carrilho Martins (Senior Policy Officer, Institute of Social Security) outlined integration into the general system with adapted contribution rules.

Across all cases, collective agreements emerged as a critical tool to ensure continuity of employment, define working conditions and strengthen access to social protection.

Discussions confirmed the relevance of these lessons for Albania, where seasonal employment is a structural feature of the tourism sector. Participants emphasized the need to adapt solutions to national realities, balancing worker protection with business sustainability.

The meeting marked an important step toward translating analysis and international experience into concrete policy dialogue, with further technical work expected to assess feasible reform options in close consultation with national stakeholders.