Ida Ismail
Two protests took place at the doors of the Albanian Parliament, while a plenary session was taking place inside the hall. Workers of the copper mine in Spaç and pensioners from several cities in the country joined in two separate protests, but with one thing in common: Dignified salaries and pensions.
After several days of strikes and suspension of work at the mine, Spaç workers continue their protests until their demands are met, such as the signing of a collective agreement, wage increases, and safe working conditions.
"We ask that MPs be made aware of our fair demands, regardless of political affiliation. We are determined for a dignified collective contract, to work honestly and safely. We are not slaves to anyone," said one of the miners.
Another miner said that Albanian workers are being treated like slaves, while concession companies are hiring foreigners with much higher salaries. “They are hiring foreigners and Albanian workers are being treated like slaves. We demand that the mining law be respected, that controls be carried out and that there be transparency for concession contracts.”
"We worked there for 9 years and they fired us. They treated us like slaves," says another.
The miners' protest was supported by several left-wing and right-wing MPs.
MP Jorida Tabaku said: "I will ask the Minister of Economy to host a representative and I will once again request the law on the "Status of Miners", to support this group, which is the most persecuted and least appreciated."
On the other hand, Socialist MP Erion Braçe reminded the concession company of its responsibility towards its workers.
"As long as this company is exploiting your labor, doing business, of course it should redistribute the income. Salaries should be indexed to inflation and included in a collective agreement. It is shameful that Turkish workers are paid many times more than Albanians for the same work process," he said.
While DP MP Agron Gjekmarkaj described the situation in the mine as a "drama" that is being consumed in the mountains of Mirdita: "Miners are being treated as enemies in their own country. A Turkish business, which came to invest, is behaving like the Ottomans once did. The government must take care and protect the interests of the workers."
Pensioners: "You increased your own salaries, but halved the people's bread"
At the same time, a protest by pensioners and citizens against rising prices and poverty took place in front of the Parliament. Chanting: "The price of bread is rising, poverty is rising, you doubled your own salaries," the protesters demanded pensions sufficient to live on and a reduction in the cost of living.
A pensioner said: "They charge us money for every health visit, our pensions don't even go to medicine. We voted for them, but today our children are running away. If the government can't do its job, it should leave and leave it to someone else."
Former miner Qani Shino, in support of Spaç's colleagues, added:
"The Spaç miners are heroes. They work for the oligarchs and are exploited by politics and foreign companies. We demand miner status and dignified pensions. The medicines we receive are expired, this is the murderous health ministry we have."
MP Redi Muçi accused the government of electoral fraud:
"In the campaign, this government promised an average pension of 400 euros, today it is only 15 thousand lek. The indexation of 2.5% is ridiculous. Nothing comes without protests. Only by protesting can you earn more."
While Arlind Qori emphasized the contrast between the increase in MPs' salaries and minimum pensions:
"This parliament increased its salaries 100%, while pensions only 1.5%. This is a betrayal of the people, of pensioners and workers. Traitors do not belong in parliament, but in prison."
The voices of miners, pensioners and citizens united in front of the Parliament in a common message: Dignity and social justice. The miners warned that they will continue the strike if their demands are not met, while the pensioners demanded a real increase in pensions and the approval of the living wage. /acqj.al
