ROUND TABLE ON THE ENGAGEMENT OF TRADE UNIONS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO PREVENT AND ELIMINATE CHILD LABOUR IN ALBANIA

Following our previous activities regarding the engagement of other branch trade unions in child labour prevention and elimination, a high level Round Table was organised, in Tirana, on 25 and 26 April, by FSASH and SPASH, in collaboration with Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Education.
More than 50 representatives from both Albanian trade union centers, KSSH and BSPSH, where FSASH and SPASH are affiliated, as well as from the Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Education attended the first day of the Round Table organised in Tirana International Hotel, discussing how to work jointly for keeping children in the school and elimination of child labour.
The chairman of The Trade Union Federation of Education and Science, Mr. Xhafer Dobrushi, spoke on behalf of both education trade unions about their engagement in child labour prevention and elimination asking also for including other branch trade unions, employers' organisations, state organs, especially those acting in the framework of the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Education, as well as other stakeholders in this engagement.
Minister of Labour, Mr. Kosta Barka, and Minister of Education, Mr. Genc Pollo, took part in the activity and spoke about the engagement of their respective ministries in keeping children in school and elimination of child labour.
Vice Minister of Internal Affairs, Mrs. Iva Zajmi, appreciated the invitation and pointed out the need of better collaboration between the trade unions and different departments of the Ministry, dealing directly with protection of children and elimination of child labour.
Both presidents of BSPSH, Mr. Gezim Kalaja and KSSH, Mr. Kole Nikollaj, present in the Round Table, appreciated the work done by FSASH and SPASH and expressed their intention to be engaged more concretely and to coordinate better the work with their affiliates in order to contribute directly to the elimination of child labour in Albania.
On behalf of ITUC and FNV, Mr. Samuel Grumiau spoke about their engagement in child labour elimination in Albania, supporting directly both Confederations and especially education trade unions, mentioning the mission and the report and Conference in October 2004, the Regional Conference in October 2006 and the actual project implementation.
Representatives from the employers' organisations and other stakeholders also expressed their opinions on the work done and the actions to be undertaken jointly aiming concrete results in identification and elimination of child labour in Albania.
The main argument discussed in this session was working jointly, trade unions and state organs, informing each other, dealing concretely with problems raised, involving all the interested stakeholders, including children themselves and parents.
As a result a joint Agreement was elaborated, discussed and approved in this Round Table, with participation of 12 different branch trade unions, 3 employers' organisations, as well as State Labour Inspectorate, Employment Directory and Social Services Directory in the Ministry of Labour.
Second day, organised in education trade unions center meeting room, was a discussion among the trade unions themselves aiming to promote and support and involve some other branch trade unions in child labour elimination activities.
In a presentation held on behalf of both education trade unions, FSASH and SPASH, some important points regarding the lesson learned by their experience were pointed out, mentioning first of all, the need of strong and well organised trade unions, the indispensability of putting child labour on their agenda, how to work in team with other partners, using collective agreements as an important tool for child labour prevention and elimination, communication with members and so on. Following the head of Child Labour Elimination Unit, acting in the framework of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Mrs. Shkelqesa Manaj, explained the work they are doing and the ways of better collaboration with trade unions, especially in districts level, especially those where education trade unions are focused, as Tirana, Elbasani, Korca, Fieri, Shkodra, Durresi, etc.
The President of KSSH, Kole Nikollaj, and representatives from other branch trade unions
(Textile; Garment and Handicraft; Light Industry; Construction; Agriculture etc), participated actively in the discussion, expressing their opinions how to work concretely, which is not done well up to now.
Most of them mentioned existing problems, especially in some companies working with raw materials brought from some foreigners and producing for export, with very cheap price,  expressing the need of more support also from trade unions of buying countries, especially from Italy.
Mr. Samuel Grumiau, explained concrete engagement of ITUC and FNV, in Albania, even regarding the problems with buying countries and insisted on working jointly not only as trade unions, but also with other stakeholders, also using the experience of FSASH and SPASH.
After constructive discussions, also with interventions of Kruja and Dobrushi, an action plan and an Appeal to the international trade Union movement were approved (attached the Appeal and the Agreement).
The Round table had a wide publicity. More than 10 TV channels representatives followed the activity and broadcasted the news about this activity and other engagements of Albanian education trade unions in child labour prevention and elimination and GAW activities in Albania.
It is fsash AND spash obligation to follow the implementation of these important documents, in cooperation with both confederations and other institutions involved.

JOINT AGREEMENT

In Tirana, today, on 25 April 2008, we heads and representatives from the institutions and organisations interested and engaged in protection of children rights, gatthered at a Round Table on “The engagement ofn the trade unions, employers’ organisations and other stakeholders for the prevention and elimination of Child Labour in Albania”, after having discussed about the situation and the extention of this phenomenon, being aware of the importance and the impact of the elimination of child labour to the overall progress of the country, also being aware that the progress can not be achieved without the work and collaboration of many stakeholders, considered necessary to reach to a joint  Agreement, accepting that each of the stakeholders participating in the Round Table, according to repesctive specifications, takes the reposibility of real engagement, creating a coalition of satkeholders which will have a powerful impact to the prevention and elimination of child labour.
Subjects participating in the Round Table, compilers and implementers of this Agreement, concretised their contributions and obligations in joint efforts as following:
1. Trade Union Group, part of the Confederation of the Trade Unions of Albania, KSSH, and The Union of Independnet trade Unions of Albania, BSPSH, composed of: Trade Union federation of Education and Science of Albania, Indipendent trade Union of Albanian Education, Trade Union Federation of Textile, Garment and Handicrafts of Albania, Independent trade Union of Light Indistry, Independent trade Union of  Construction and Public Services of Albania, Trade Union Federation of Building, Wood Workers and Public Services of Albania, Trade Union Federation of Health Care of Albania , Independnet trade Union of Agriculture, Independent trade Union of Chemistry and Metalurgy and Trade Union Federation of Defence Civil Employees, as well as
Sindikata e Pavarur e Tekstil-Konfeksioneve e Lekures dhe Federata Sindikale e Tregtise Bankave dhe Sherbimeve,
Commit themsleves to:
- Identification and organising the work work for decreasing the number of pupils dropped out of  school or are at risk to drop out.
- Undertake concrete actions on the basis of district and school level for  returning and integration of pupils that have already dropped out of school.
- Cooperate with Regional and Districts Education Directorates and school administrations, as well as with the community of parents and pupils aiming better results in the school and elimination of child labour.
- Trade unions of other branchs and professions, in collaboration with trade unions of education and other partners commit themselves to train local trade union leaders in order to prepare them to face the problems realted to child labour in their respective sector.
- Trade unions of other branches and professions during negotiations for the collective agreement, also include issues related to stopping employers from using child labour.
- Trade unions of other branches and professions will avoid the cases where there are children employed in their sectors and except from discussing this problem with the employee, when no immediate solution is found, will make this known to the State Inspectorate of Labour.

2.  Employers Group, composed of: Association of Construction Workers of Albania, The Council of Employers’ Organisations of Albania and the Association of Exporting Producers of Albania:
Commit themselves to:
- Intervene to the private companies that, by avoiding informality in employment, through insurance of the employees, to eliminate child labour.
- Coordinate better actions with National Employment Service and State Labour Inspectorate for the procedures of legal registration of recruiting employees.
- In collaboration with the trade unions, they will commit themselves to find ways aiming to avoiding the participation of children in working processes that their parents take home from some companies, especially perparative work for producing shoes.

3. State Labour Inspectorate:
Commit itself to:
- Exchange information with trade unions in connection with child labour.
- Follow with priority the cases of child labour reported (denounced) by trade unions, also by collaborating with them till the problem is solved.
- In collaboration with education trade unions, have a direct impact to make possible the inclusion in extracurricular hours of some special topics, that constitute standards, on working rules and security.
  
4.The Directory of Employment Policies in the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
Commit itself to:
- Have a direct impact in order that employment offices follow with high repsonsibility the registration of job demands and, in collaboration with the State labour Inspectoriate, control the empoyment procedures, according to defined rules and standards.
- Through Vocational Training Centers, organise training of young boys and girls in order to make them known with labour market qemands and orientate them towards the most preferred professions.
5.   ILO- IPEC:
Will support the engagement of trade unuions and other stakeholders part of this Agreement through:

Tirana, on 25 April 2008

Appeal from the Albanian Trade Unions
to the International Trade Union Movement

Considering that child labour continues to be a serious problem in Albania, including in companies which are exporting their production allover the world, such as shoes&garment (operating with the cooperation of foreign companies) and agriculture,

Considering the conclusions of the Conference on child labour organised with the ICFTU in Tirana in 2004, (see conclusions attached), and the agreement between trade unions, employers organisations, government institutions and other stakeholders, (see attached),

Considering the lessons learned by the project against child labour implemented by two edcuation trade unions (FSASH and SPASH) since 2001 (with the support of IPEC and ICFTU) and 2004 (with the support of the FNV and its teachers federation, AOb),

Being gathered today in Tirana in a meeting which purpose is to involve more and more branch unions in the fight against child labour,

We, leaders of the Trade Union Federation of Education and Science of Albania, Indipendent trade Union of Albanian Education, Trade Union Federation of Textile, Garment and Handicrafts of Albania, Independent trade Union of Light Indistry, Independent trade Union of  Construction and Public Services of Albania, Trade Union Federation of Building, Wood Workers and Public Services of Albania, Trade Union Federation of Health Care of Albania , Independnet trade Union of Agriculture, Independent trade Union of Chemistry and Metalurgy and Trade Union Federation of Defence Civil Employees, part of The Union of Independent trade Unions of Albania, BSPSH, and the Confederation of the Trade Unions of Albania, KSSH, as well as authonomous trade unions:
Independent trade Union of Textile, Garment and leather of Albania, and Trade Union Federation of Commerce and Banks of Albania:

Are requesting the help of the international trade union movements in order to get a support in our actions against the exploitation of children in the exporting industries. We are specifically looking for the help of the trade unions of the main buying countries to support our actions aiming at eliminating child labour and reintegrating them into schools.
A support from the international trade unions and from unions of the buying countries would be a strong encouragement for the Albanian trade unions in their fight against child labour.

Tirana, 26 April 2008