In the bustling capital of Albania, Tirana, hundreds of men and women work tirelessly to keep the city clean — sweeping its streets, maintaining its parks, and collecting waste in all weather conditions. Yet behind their essential role lies a troubling reality of exploitation, poverty wages, and disregard for workers’ rights.
“Our salary is 300. Sometimes we get 260, 270, or 280,” says Ardita, one of the cleaning and greening workers in Tirana. “We work in the sun, in the rain, day and night. But the pay is barely enough to live on.”
Ardita is one of the 308 workers employed in the cleaning and greening sector of Tirana, responsible for maintaining the city’s image while struggling to survive on meager pay. Despite their critical contribution, most of these workers come from marginalized and low-income communities — and their situation highlights deep-rooted inequalities in Albania’s labor system.
Low Pay and Unpaid Overtime
According to Ardita, exploitation often begins with unpaid overtime.
“There are times when we work extra hours because our supervisors tell us to,” she explains. “But we don’t get any reward for that. Once, Erion Veliaj gave us 100,000 lekë as a one-time gift. That’s all.”
For most workers, delays in salary payments and lack of health coverage have become routine. Reports of late wages, missing social insurance payments, and ignored sick leave are common, making it difficult for employees to support their families or access healthcare.
A recent study by the Center for Labor Rights (Qendra për të Drejtat në Punë) sheds light on these issues, showing how both municipal and private companies exploit vulnerable workers in this sector.
“Whether they work directly for the municipality or for private contractors, many cleaning workers receive only the minimum wage,” says Eni Mjeshtri, a representative of the Center. “About 26% of them are paid at or below the legal minimum, and 76% of them are women.”
Women at the Heart of Exploitation
The study emphasizes that women make up the majority of the workforce in the cleaning and greening sector. For many, this job is their only option — but it comes with long hours, no benefits, and constant physical strain.
Working mothers often face impossible choices: balancing family responsibilities with demanding shifts that start before sunrise and end after sunset.
Despite this, they rarely complain — out of fear.
“In many companies, a climate of intimidation exists that prevents workers from organizing or demanding their rights,” the report reveals.
The fear of retaliation or dismissal discourages most employees from joining unions or speaking up about their working conditions. Some who tried to organize were reportedly threatened with job loss or reassignment to harder duties.
The Case of Elbasan: A Troubling Example
The city of Elbasan has been identified as one of the most problematic areas in the study.
“Elbasan stands out as particularly concerning,” says Mjeshtri. “Through our focus groups with workers, we found numerous cases of rights violations. The municipality is aware of these problems but little has changed.”
In Elbasan, many cleaning workers claim to have gone months without full pay. Others mention being denied safety equipment, forcing them to handle waste and hazardous materials with their bare hands.
Such negligence not only endangers their health but also reveals the systemic failure of oversight within municipal contracts.
Tools of Work — A Symbol of Neglect
For most cleaning workers, the broom remains their main tool, an outdated symbol of the harsh conditions under which they work.
“They still work with old brooms and worn-out equipment,” says Mjeshtri. “This is a shame for both municipalities and private contractors. These workers risk their lives daily.”
Modern cleaning machinery and protective gear could make their work safer and more efficient, yet such investments are rarely prioritized. Instead, the workers continue to rely on manual labor — unseen, undervalued, and underpaid.
The Bigger Picture: Labor Rights in Albania
This situation is not unique to Tirana. Across Albania, thousands of low-paid municipal workers — including street cleaners, gardeners, and waste collectors — face chronic underpayment and labor rights violations.
Experts say that Albania’s transition economy and weak labor inspection systems have allowed employers, both public and private, to circumvent regulations with little accountability.
While Albania has adopted European labor standards on paper, implementation remains weak. Workers often find themselves caught between bureaucratic inertia and political indifference, with no effective recourse.
A Call for Dignity and Change
The Center for Labor Rights urges municipalities to enforce stricter oversight on private cleaning companies and to ensure fair contracts for all workers.
“Municipalities must guarantee that every worker receives their legal wage, insurance, and protection,” Mjeshtri insists. “These people keep our cities clean — they deserve dignity, not exploitation.”
For Ardita and her colleagues, that dignity remains a distant dream. Yet their voices, now reaching the public through media and advocacy groups, are a crucial step toward change.
As the streets of Tirana glisten under the morning sun, those who keep them that way still wait for recognition — and for justice.