Ida Ismail
In Albania, pregnancy for many women is not only a period of joy, but often turns into a period of anxiety, a phase where the fear of losing their job begins. In public and private offices, the stories of new mothers are repeated with the same pattern: Pressure, injustice and silence. A report by the Institute for Development and Civic Initiatives (IZHIQ) sheds light on a bitter reality that often remains invisible. The study analyzed the experiences of 207 women who have experienced various forms of discrimination due to pregnancy or maternity.
According to the director of the Institute for Development and Civic Initiatives Daniela Burnazi, the issue of discrimination due to pregnancy mostly affects women who are of reproductive age and are actively part of the labor market. "In the survey, 71% of women are in the 31-40 age group, 24% are 21-30 years old and 5% belong to the 41-50 age group."
The data shows that 48% work in the private sector and 51% in the public sector, but cases of violations are more frequent in the private sector, where controls are rarer and contracts are often temporary. The report highlights that the most problematic situation is found especially in the tailoring industry, where many employers avoid legal obligations for maternity leave due to financial costs.
Burnazi states that the study found that: "23% of women have been pressured to resign, 17% have been fired, 14% have suffered a pay cut or reduced hours, and 29% report other forms of unfair treatment."
One of the women surveyed, an employee at a shopping mall in Tirana, says:
“When I told them I was pregnant, they cut my hours and moved me to late shifts. After three weeks, they fired me. I didn't complain because I didn't have money for a lawyer and I had to find another job.”
Another widespread phenomenon, according to the report, is pressure after returning from maternity leave. Employers often refuse to reinstate women in the same position, change their hours, or impose conditions that force them to leave on their own.
“The most common forms of discrimination are dismissal from work or non-renewal of the contract after returning from work leave, lack of job security after maternity leave,” Burnazi points out. She adds that many women face harassment or hostile attitudes in the workplace, which makes them feel insecure.
The law exists, but implementation is lacking.
The Albanian Labor Code and the Law “On Protection from Discrimination” guarantee special protection for pregnant women and new mothers. But, in practice, these provisions often remain on paper.
From the report's analysis: 88% of women know that dismissal due to pregnancy is illegal, but 70% did not know where to turn for help. Most of them did not trust public institutions to make a real complaint.
"The lack of effective law enforcement is a serious gap. Employers often go unpunished and oversight mechanisms are weak. Women's low awareness of their rights, fear of consequences and lack of trust in institutions further exacerbate the situation," says Burnazi.
The report highlights that the most problematic situation is found in the private sector, especially in tailoring, call centers and trade, where contracts are temporary and high turnover is used as an excuse for unjustified leave. Many employers avoid legal obligations for maternity leave due to financial costs, turning pregnancy into a “work hazard”. In the absence of real controls and denunciations, abusive practices continue unpunished.
The report recommends: Strengthening inspection mechanisms, creating confidential channels for reporting, increasing inter-institutional cooperation, and providing flexible forms of work for young mothers.
Discrimination at work is not only a legal issue, but also a social one. It is a signal that society has not yet accepted that parenthood is a right, not a career obstacle. /acqj.al
