The Albanian Policy and Legislation on Employment of Foreigners: the impact in the internal labour market

Abstract

While being a predominantly country of emigration, Albania is currently experiencing an increase in the number 
of foreigners employed in the country; a trend which deserves analyses for future planning and designing of 
employment policies: protectionist vs. liberalized approach. This will become particularly important in the 
eventuality of future accession, which is believed to be followed by a prompt increase of the number of 
immigrants/foreign workers in the country. The article analyzes the impact of the employment of foreigners in the 
Albanian Labor Market. It finds that the two essential tools in employment of foreigners, which aim at protection 
of internal labor market- namely labor market test and economic benefit test, in practice are difficult to be applied, 
thus leaving the protectionist legislative clauses without any impact in practice.