Seminar on joint actions to prevent and eliminate child labour
in Vlora Region

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Both education trade unions in Albania, TUFESA and ITUAE, in collaboration with ILO-IPEC office in Tirana, with ILO-IPEC financial support, organised an important seminar, on joint actions to prevent and eliminate child labour, with wide participation of local trade union leaders, not only from education, but also from textile, shoes and light industry, construction, commerce, agricultural, health care, from both Confederations, KSSH and BSPSH, as well as from State Labour inspectorate, employment offices and employers organisations from both Vlora and Fieri districts, all of them part of Joint Agreement signed in Tirana in April 2008.
The Chairman of TUFESA, Xhafer Dobrushi and the National Manager of ILO-IPEC in Albania, Etleva Vertopi, also took part in the seminar.

Mrs. Shkelqesa Manaj, Head of Child Labour Unit, in the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, made a wide presentation on International standards and national legislation on child labour prevention and elimination, on child labour monitoring system and techniques, the use of monitoring tools for preventing children at risk of entering WFCL and withdrawal of children involved in WFCL.
She also spoke widely about items and standards of ILO Conventions 138 and 182, also referring to the implementation of the program “Child Labour Monitoring System in Albania”, mentioning the important role of trade unions in Multi-Disciplinary Teams, acting in the selected districts.

Following, Mrs. Etleva Vertopi spoke on ILO-IPEC activities in Albania, its collaboration with education and other branch trade unions from both confederations, KSSH and BSPSH, as well as on the Joint Agreement on child labour prevention and elimination in Albania, pointing out the special role of IPEC and education trade unions for its effective implementation of this agreement, effectively including also other stakeholders, state institutions and NGO-s.

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On behalf of both education trade unions, Mr. Xhafer Dobrushi spoke about their engagement and results in child labour prevention and elimination mentioning also the involvement of other branch trade unions and other stakeholders in these activities.
He mentioned that some 40 000 children is estimated to be engaged in working in Albania, and some 6 500 pupils drop out from school every year. That’s why more than 1 600 teachers, out of whom 570 in 20 pilot schools, have been and are engaged in concrete individual work with more than 2 400 pupils, out of whom 1 250 in 20  pilot schools.
Around 650 pupils is estimated to be moved from working and turned back at school only in 6 districts where TUFESA and ITUAE have been focused, (Kamza area in Tirana, Fieri, Elbasani, Korca, Durresi, Shkodra), as a result of concrete work that teachers, pupils, school administrations have done in the schools, in the community and with parents and relatives in pupils’ families.

Wide discussions and debates were made in the seminar, especially regarding the work done, results achieved and the need of better collaboration with local government authorities, schools administrations and employers.
The chairman of ITUAE Section in Fieri District, Shpetim Sino, spoke on the special role of teachers and education trade unions, as well as on the indispensability of non formal education and specialized teachers to work separately with some pupils.

The chairman of TUFESA Section in Vlora districts, Petref Celaj, parallel with the role of teachers and their trade unions, pointed out the need of better coordination and collaboration with other branch trade unions in district level, as well as with local government authorities, especially regarding families in need and children without parents, aiming to assist them economically and financially.
The chairman of KSSH Fieri District Council, Tafil Gjolena, spoke about the results of education trade unions in this district, considering them as a results of their collaboration with other branch trade unions especially those from construction, textile, commerce etc. as well as with other stakeholders, especially educational directorate, labour inspectorate etc.
The chairman of KSSH Health Care section in Vlora, Fatos Shkurti, spoke about the need of a better joint engagement aiming to improve the respective legislation and its implementation.
The representative of ITUAE section in Vlora, Ruzhdi Begaj, pointed out the sectors where children are more engaged in working in Vlora district mentioning agriculture, street selling, car wash, textile and shoes industry, construction and insisted on the Joint Agreement implementation monitoring.

An one year Action Plan was discussed and approved in the seminar, especially regarding the Joint Agreement implementation, followed by a working group established with the participation of representatives from Agreement signatories.
Participants appreciated also the plan of enlarging the stakeholders participating in the Agreement, which is expected to have a direct impact on child labour prevention and elimination in Albania

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