The employment of prisoners in Albania continues to be unaccompanied by the payment of social security contributions, meaning that their period of employment while serving their sentence is not recognized as a period of insurance for pensions or other social benefits. This is one of the issues identified in the Supreme State Audit Office's performance audit on the treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration of convicted persons for the period 2022–2024.
According to the report, during this period, around 891 convicts worked in penal institutions, mainly in internal prison services. However, their work is not accompanied by a full social security scheme, which means that the period of work in prison is not recognized for pension or social protection purposes.
Audit data shows that the employment of prisoners has fluctuated from year to year. In 2022, 190 convicts worked, while in 2023 their number increased to 468 people, or 278 more, marking an increase of 246%. In 2024, the number of employed convicts decreased to 233 people.
A total of 50,374,097 lek were paid for the work performed by the convicts during this period. The average salary for this category is 56,537 lek per year, or about 4,712 lek per month for the analyzed period.
In 2024, an increase in payment for work performed by prisoners was noted, with the average salary reaching 101,218 lek per year, or about 8,435 lek per month, however, this does not change the fact that their work is not related to social security contributions.
The audit also highlights that in many cases, the employment of convicts is not fully formalized. Prison institutions lack monthly work planning, work organization, and signed contracts for working convicts, which makes it even more difficult to recognize their rights as employees.
According to the report, the lack of a structured system of employment and payment of social security contributions weakens the rehabilitative effect of prison work. Although employment is considered one of the main factors for the reintegration of former prisoners into society and the labor market, a large proportion of them leave prison without an insurance history and without formalized work experience.
The Supreme State Audit Office estimates that improving employment programs in prisons and creating a mechanism for the recognition and payment of social security contributions for working prisoners would be an important step for their rehabilitation and reintegration after release from prison. /Ekofin.al/
