The 500-euro salary and housing: Schema bringing African workers to Albania

From Ghana to Tirana, during this tourist season, the number of cleaning workers and serving in bars and restaurants has been significantly increased. Human resource experts predict that the number of foreign workers will continue to increase because of tourism development. While Albania continues to be seen as a transit country for transition towards the EU, experts call for the drafting of long-term policies aimed at social and professional integration of foreign workers.

Fatima, 28, is one of the youngest employees in the bar-restorant “It was in the heart of the capital. For a few weeks, she has been employed as a cleaning lady, being one of two young girls coming from South Africa to work in this bar. According to her, the main reason she urged her to emigrate to Albania is high unemployment in the country of origin.

I feel good in Albania and I want to continue working to help my family”, Fatima says, stressing the economic goal of her stay.

The local manager, Arthur, confirms that this is the first time this business employs foreign employees.

The decision to employ foreign employees has been made due to the lack of domestic workforce, especially in the summer period, when young Albanians often leave towards coastal areas for seasonal work or even abroad.

However, Arthur points out that he is unhappy with the productivity of foreign workers, calling it a new challenge for staff management and quality of service.

Local bar and restaurant service businesses are among the first to attend a trend similar to many European states, where due to high migration and lack of labour force, workers from African countries are employing.

The presence of foreign workers, mostly young African states at this summer season, is being seen not only in the businesses of Tirana's main areas as former Block or centre, but also in tourist venues, including Korca, Lezha, Stryjin, Lallez Bay or Saranda.

The cleaning and utility sector at bars and restaurants continue to remain among the most affected by the lack of domestic workers.

Foreign workers are often willing to take jobs that local people avoid and pay low. In one of the private operators operating in the maintenance and cleaning of the city of Pogradec, three young people from the African state of Ghana have been employed for weeks.

Employees claimed they benefit a net payment of 370 euros, while the company provides them with accommodation for sleep and food.

The company has long faced difficulties finding local employees to clean up and maintain the city's public facilities, as many of the local employees have left because of hard work and low pay.

Even call center companies are looking to Africa for employment. Lawrence Goga, manager of one of the call center companies, claims that in the country they still continue to feel difficulties in recruiting young people, especially for connoisseurs of Italian.

Mr. Goga pointed out that he is studying the possibility of hiring foreign workers, including African states, but making the decision is difficult, since foreigners do not know Italian.

In total, in 2023, the number of foreign citizens with residence permits in Albania reached 21,460, according to INSTAT data. Compared to 2022, their number rose to 18%. The number of foreigners with residence permits for employment in 2023 reached 10,360 foreigners.

Compared to 2022, their number increased around 31%.

The 500-euro salary and housing; Schema bringing African workers to Albania

In bar-restorant “It was May 1,”, the monthly salary for new employees starts at 500 euros, and includes the expenses for accommodation and food, a scheme that is increasingly used to attract workers from abroad, under conditions when the local market does not provide enough staff for such jobs.

Erald Pashaj, Executive Director in “EPPC Albania & Kosovo”, one of the largest consultancy companies for human resources, states that the average net salary for foreign workers in Albania fluctuates in values of 500 to 520 euros a month, including sleeping and food accommodation.

In the region, the average net salary for foreign employees is offered in Serbia at the level of 750 euros a month, as recruits are more organised./ Monitor. al/ Periscopi/