Subsistence minimum is estimated at 18,500 ALL, 620 thousand Albanians threatened by poverty
“I receive 7,000 lekë per month in economic aid, I also have a little boy to keep, how can go on with these?”, asks an interviewed citizen.
According to a recent study by the state agency INSTAT, about 621 thousand Albanians live in poverty. Their incomes are very low as prices are continually rising. According to the ombudsman, a citizen in Albania needs 18,500 ALL to live in minimum conditions.
But most pensions are below this figure. Economic assistance or wages also do not guarantee minimum living conditions. According to the People’s Advocate, Erinda Ballanca, since 2016 the adoption of the law on the subsistence minimum has been ignored:
“Since 2016, we have made a request to the Assembly on this and then it was decided to create a commission that would deal with the determination of the living wage every year, but it seems that this was later forgotten.
“Albania, compared to its neighbors, Serbia and Northern Macedonia, is far away in terms of budget for social issues.”
The government promised to double aid to abused women, orphans and victims of trafficking, but the decision of the Council of Ministers has not yet been issued and aid has not been received for January and February. Recognition of the subsistence level would oblige all state structures to set as a criterion the figure of 18,500 ALL per person. This would inevitably lead to an increase in low pensions.
According to a recent study by the state agency INSTAT, about 621 thousand Albanians live in poverty. Their incomes are very low as prices are continually rising. According to the ombudsman, a citizen in Albania needs 18,500 ALL to live minimally.
But most pensions are below this figure. Economic assistance or wages also do not guarantee minimum living conditions. According to the People’s Advocate, Erinda Ballanca, since 2016 the adoption of the law on minimum subsistence has been ignored:
“Since 2016, we have made a request to the Assembly on this and then it was decided to create a commission that would deal with the determination of the living wage every year, but it seems that this was later forgotten.
“Albania, compared to its neighbors, Serbia and Northern Macedonia, is far away in terms of budget for social issues.”
The government promised to double aid to abused women, orphans and victims of trafficking, but the decision of the Council of Ministers has not yet been issued and aid has not been received for January and February. Recognition of the subsistence level would oblige all state structures to set as a criterion the figure of 18,500 ALL per person. This would inevitably lead to an increase in low pensions.
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