Shëngjin, Albania – April 2025.
A specialized training for Labour Inspectors in Albania was held from 22–25 April 2025, Shëngjin (Lezhë), as part of activities supported by the ILO through the Employment and Social Affairs Platform 3 project. 

A total of 40 labour inspectors—20 women and 20 men—from the regional offices of the State Labour and Social Services Inspectorate (ISHPSHSH) in Vlorë, Dibër, and Shkodër participated in the training, which was delivered by five expert lecturers from the ISHPSHSH Central Directorate.

The training aimed to strengthen inspectors’ capacities in applying the ILO Code of Practice on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), with particular focus on high-risk sectors such as Textiles, Garments, Leather and Footwear, and the Construction Industry. It forms part of the broader training programme delivered by ASPA, in cooperation with ISHPSHSH, under the curriculum “Fundamentals for Labour Inspectors.”

Training Components

The four-day programme combined theoretical and practical sessions on:
• Identifying and assessing workplace risks;
• International OSH standards and Albanian legislation;
• Inspection methodologies and effective report writing;
• Communication with employers and workers to improve working conditions.

Key Benefits and Outcomes

The training produced several significant outcomes, including:
• Enhanced professional competence of inspectors to identify and address OSH violations;
• Improved alignment of inspection practices with EU and ILO standards;
• Promotion of a prevention-oriented workplace culture;
• Strengthened inter-institutional cooperation and exchange of experiences among inspectors from different regions.

On the  International Day for Safety and Health at Work, 28 April 2025, labour inspectors organized promotion of a prevention-oriented workplace culture among employers and workers. 

A Step Toward Higher-Quality Labour Inspection Services

The activity represents an important step toward improving the quality and effectiveness of labour inspection services in Albania. It also contributes to the achievement of the ILO’s programme objectives in the Western Balkans and supports alignment with the EU acquis.

The organizers emphasized that similar capacity-building initiatives are essential to extend these improvements across the entire inspection workforce and to ensure sustained progress in occupational safety and health nationwide.

The Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP 3), funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Labour Organization, supports Western Balkan economies in advancing labour market governance, formalization, and social dialogue.