Kosovo, Albania sign employment deal

Kosovo, Albania sign employment deal

The bilateral agreement establishes a common labour market between the two countries.

Erion Veliaj, Albania minister of youth and social welfare (left) and Nenad Rasic, Kosovo minister of labour and social welfare, sign a memorandum of co-operation in Tirana. [Albania Ministry of Youth and Social Welfare]

Kosovo and Albania are simplifying the employment-seeking process and establishing a common job market.

The two countries signed a memorandum of co-operation in Tirana that calls for creating an internet employment portal to list all vacancies in Albania and Kosovo, and three joint professional training centres for the jobless.

"If one looks for a job, say, as a plumber, he now has the chance to check for the available opportunities in both countries, Erion Veliaj, minister of youth and social welfare of Albania, told SETimes.

Kosovo and Albania have long been affected by high unemployment -- 30 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

The EU 2013 progress report on Albania said the long-term unemployment is structural and accounts for two thirds of total job seekers.

"Labour market statistics continue to be weak and are distorted by a large informal sector," it said.

Many employment offices in Albania are located in suburban areas, which makes it hard for young people to find jobs, said Luan Bregasi, president of Biznes Albania, a Tirana-based association that brings together Albanian businessmen.

"That is why I consider the creation of a portal to formalise and increase the chances for job-related information between Albania and Kosovo a very positive development," Bregasi told SETimes.

Nearly 150,000 people registered at the employment...