The Albanian government has approved, in principle, a social security agreement with Slovenia, expanding cooperation on the protection of citizens’ pension and employment rights.

Speaking to the media after the government meeting, Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj highlighted the importance of the agreement, which brings the total number of social security agreements signed by Albania to 17.

Ibrahimaj said that 11 of these agreements involve European Union member states, including the new agreement with Slovenia.

She explained that the government has strengthened this policy in recent years to protect workers’ rights and ensure that citizens receive the benefits they earn after working in Albania and abroad.

“This policy protects the rights and payments that individuals can receive in the future after completing years of work in Albania and another country,” Ibrahimaj said.

The minister also pointed to the agreement with Italy, which Albania signed and ratified last year, as one of the most important due to the large number of Albanians living and working there.

So far, around 20,000 Albanians have benefited from existing agreements that recognize their social security contribution periods. Meanwhile, Albania continues negotiations on four additional agreements, which will soon go before the Council of Ministers for approval.

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