Global effects for employees’ rights in Albania, from the perspective of corporate governance

Abstract

Economic globalization is responsible for the difficult situation  of many of the world’s workers. Production, owned 
by multinational corporations, should lead to improvements in labor rights, but actually, it is  associated with 
deteriorations in labor rights.  The central aim of this study is the identification of the way  in which violations of 
workers rights are related to recent increases in international economic integration. Many authors link the 
globalization of the production process with the mistreatment of workers, as corporations  and their 
subcontractors in different countries seek to minimize labor costs and as governments aim to attract foreign 
businesses through lower standards.  
The study main theoretical claim is based on proponents of Corporate Social Responsibility, who argue that 
multinational firms have material incentives to promote the protection of labor rights,(through co-determination 
practices, such as the German case)  not only in their home countries but also in their various host locations. 
Given that these firms want to avoid the negative effects it can have on shareholder and consumer perceptions, 
they may be inclined to pressure adherence to internationally recognized labor rights.  
So there are many arguments which lead to both positive and negative consequences for workers, especially in 
developing or transition countries, such as Albania. The first assumption is that developing nations which, have a 
lack of capital, great desire for economic growth and lack of voice in intergovernmental economic institutions, are 
totally influenced by global economic forces.   
So, the empirical analyses is focused on the ability of employees/ workers to act collectively, for example, the 
right to organize, bargain collectively and strike. These rights are seen in the perspective of human rights and 
their involvement into the decision-taking of corporations.  
The final analyses concludes, not only  perceptions of concepts on  labor legal relations in Albanian context and 
their implementation but also, the way regional integration (as part of globalism), such as EU integration, could 
affect the whole employment issue.