Albania

Abstract

This chapter analyses the most important policies influencing the gender and health implications of the extension of working life in Albania post 2000. Parametric reforms of social insurance will gradually increase and equalise retirement ages for men and women to 67 years by 2056, and extend the insurance period to 40 years by 2032. During the period 1993–2016, the average real retirement age has increased from 53.2 to 63.2 years old. People have the right to receive the pension and continue working and paying contributions, but if they postpone receiving pensions after retirement age, the pension amount increases by 0.5% each month; in the case of early retirement, the pension amount reduces by 0.6% each month. New types of private sector employment—part-time, self-employment, family businesses, remote working—have opened opportunities to extend working life beyond retirement age. However, high levels of unemployment, informal work, lack of adequate skills, and insufficient public services create difficulties, especially for women, to extend working life. To fully address the complexity of extending working lives, an integrated approach should involve all relevant policy areas including education, health, employment and social protection, as well as engaging stakeholders, public authorities, businesses and civil society.