
The criteria for unemployment benefits have been eased for people who have been out of the labor market for a certain period of time. The new changes that redefine the beneficiary categories of unemployment income have been published in the Official Gazette.
If previously in order to receive unemployment benefits, the person had to have contributed as an employee to social insurance for a period of at least 1 year in total, within the last 24 months, provided that the last 2 months were uninterrupted, with the changes of finally, it is sufficient for all persons who have contributed as employees to social security for a period of at least 1 year, to benefit from unemployment income. So, the criterion that a citizen should have had the last 2 months of work without interruption and the condition that he should have paid the insurance in the last 24 months has been removed.
Unemployment remains a worrying problem throughout the Western Balkans, especially in Albania and Montenegro. According to the Balkan Barometer 2024, about 40% of Albanian citizens and 33% of Montenegrin citizens list this as one of the three main concerns. This percentage exceeds the average of the Balkans, which is 27%.
From the data of the Balkan Barometer 2024, Albania results with a high unemployment rate. Out of 1000 respondents, 20% were unemployed in our country, thus exceeding the level of other countries in the region.