Gender economic status and gender economic inequalities Albanian case Held in International Conference: Gender, Policy and Labor, the experiences and challenges for the region and EU General overview Albania entered the period of transition in 1992. The extensive socio-economic transformation during this period substantially affected the structure of country s economy and the living standards of the populations. Moreover, the downturn in economy, frequent institutional crises, persistently high level of poverty and inequality indicators did not create the best conditions for achieving gender equality. However, the discourse of new concepts and ideas such as good governance, social inclusion, partnership, social dialogue, gender equality and gender mainstreaming presented considerable challenges even to Albania. These new ideas and terms introduced recently have given rise to an emerging discourse and acceptance of a meaningful civil dialogue, which even though has not yet accepted gender mainstreaming in policy making as the most appropriate strategy, is getting prepared to put forward arguments in favor of redistributing wealth to combat poverty, redistributing power to give male and female citizens equal capacity for actions, and redistributing time to attack the roots of inequalities. Labor market analysis In analysing gendered realities in Albania, the analysis reveal gendered bases of inequity and inequality to be powerful and pervaise. The presence of poverty among women is linked to the unequal access to and distribution of resources, lack of control over productive resources and limited participation in economic life. Whether such factors are determined structurally, by laws and culture, or transiently, by macro economic policy, their gender bias is clear. Even though clear progress had been made in enshrining equality in constitutional terms, eliminating direct forms of discrimination by signing, ratifying and adopting the protocol to the convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against women, and by adapting legal frameworks or creating innovative legislation and programs (on issues such as gender equality, sexual violence, gender equality national strategy etc.), it is evident that there is no greater gender participation in the labor force. Public policies have only partly provided solutions in terms of regulating labor market and increasing social spending. Only few of these policies have sought to address women s specific demands for equal opportunity access to the labor market through measures for reconciling private life with public life or eliminating the stereotypes. From this standpoint, the only explanation for the persistence of labor market, social and political inequalities is that the changes that have taken place in the country have not reached as far as the family sphere, and that the policies for harmonizing family life and work are missing.
Also, the most of available data that are still gender statistically invisible show that women are at a disadvantage since they represent the majority of people who have no sufficient incomes. The unequal opportunities for women to gain access to paid work limit their ability to attain economic autonomy. Moreover, they still have difficulty acceding to certain positions of responsibility or making a career, such as managing positions. This no doubt translates into lower pay. In case further negligence of gender disproportions that already exist today in the governance system and on the labor market of Albania continue, it will no doubt result in the growing gender gap in the income levels, and the greater feminization of poverty in the country. Gender economic inequalities Employment: The actual situation proves that women are not only less represented at both central and local governmental level, but also less in number in high earning occupations at central and local administration level, particularly in 2004. Moreover, employment rate of women is dropping significantly from 45 % (1997) to 38.3 (2004). The employment rate of men has also decreased from 74 % (1997) to 60.1 (2004). What attract attention is that the analyses by employment status present a larger population of self-employed females in agricultural sector (52 %) compared to (45 %) male and that the low official employment rate is partly compensated by significant informal employment. The tendency in the decrease in public sector employment, both budgetary and non-budgetary becomes evident particularly after 2001. The decrease in labor force among others is related to emigration phenoemenon. According to NSSED, the emigration of some 600,000 emigrants in the past 10 years, including 50,000 University graduates is a real loss that costs in terms of the investments made in their education. The lack of detailed gender data in employment both in non-agricultural and agricultural private sector as well as international migration does not allow us to have more gender analysis and more available information on women s involvement in these sectors, known to have an important role in economic and social developments. The missing official gender statistical data no doubt indicate the lack of government awareness and willing to introduce gender data in all sectors and fields of life. Women s employment by economic status: The analyses by employment status present that the majority of female employed in Albania continue to work in occupations in which women have traditionally been concentrated. Female participation decreases in industry, construction, transport and communication known to be traditional jobs for male. The surprise comes from the hotels and restaurants sector, in which we notice an equal participation of male and female employment. In the groups of legislators, senior officials and managers only 26 % are female, but this situation is completely the opposite for the groups of technicians, professionals and clerks, where the major part are females, with 56 % of total employment. It seems as women perform jobs traditionally perceived to be female jobs. Also, their traditional responsibility for the so called private sphere, for unpaid housework and the unpaid care of young, sick and elderly family member continues to remain one of the main barrier to pursuing a career.
Unemployment: Unemployment, another wound for the Albanian woman, is one of the most problematic women issues during this transition period. Also known as the main source of poverty, it has had a major impact in the of decrease women's status. During the period 2003-2004 a higher unemployment rate among females compared to males is noted, in all age groups. Whereas, unofficial data show a much higher percentage of discouraged unemployed that are not registered as unemployed because of the lack of faith in job opportunities offered by the government bodies. This explains the reduced number of unemployment rate since 1999. What attracts attention is that university education of women in Albania is known to be 2/3 of the university education of men. Unfortunately, the sucess in education is not translated into better labor market insertion. Neither has it narrowed the wage gap. It means that education has slight impact on redistributing family responsibilities and eliminating the values and prejudices that lead to discrimination and lower access to labor market compared to that of men. The lack of women s opportunities to labor market is no doubt related to women s dependency, or the lack of autonomy within the household, which obviously affects their economic self-sufficiency and decision-making capacity. Moreover, their vulnerabiluty in case of widohood, termination of a marriage or breakup of family is even more agrevated. Unfortunately, these social aspects are practically never addresed. Social protection: Despite the progress, the social system and the programs that are being currently implemented do not meet the needs of various beneficiary groups. Payment in cash dominates in comparison with the provision of social services. About 16 % of families without income or with insufficient income continue to be supported through a monthly modest payment. The government data relates that 42 % of the distributed economic assistance goes to urban areas and 58 % to rural areas. Unfortunately, there is no available data, which could show how this assistance was benefited by sex, even though it is said that female unemployment benefit known as economic assistance rate lower compared to that of men. We should add that in recent years, as a consequence of general emigration, the number of widows, divorced women and of those whose husbands have emigrated has increased. The government reports that these women benefit from economic and humanitarian assistance but no one can say to what degree they do benefit from this support. Whereas, the young women giving birth to children out of the marriage, remain out of the schemes and have to rely on their parent s earnings. Studies also observe that social security systems are not extensive enough to protect women exclusively dedicated to reproductive work, those in the informal labor market, or the majority of unpaid family workers in urban and rural aras. Also, the vulnerability of older women is the result of many successive inequalities. Even though we can speak of greater female life expectancy, and earlier female retirement, the figures indicate that women receiving pensions are less in number than men in urban areas. The
disadvantage is caused by the fact that the pension formula directly reflects gender gap to employment opportunities (women are known to be at greater risk then men), which results in shorter contribution period for women. In the case of rural pensions, interesting enough is the fact that there are more women to receive retirement pension than men, even though they have very limited employment opportunities and are less as farmers if compared to men. (farmers by sex: male - 96.1 %, female - 3.9 %). Childcare no doubt promotes economic independence and affetcs parent s decision whether to work. But what are the realities in Albania? Actually, there are not available data to illustrate the situation of day cares and kindergartens. However, in 2005 the Minsitry of Education reports 78,610 children registered in kindergartens, 1,608 state kindergartens on national level, among which 1,241 in the rural areas and 367 in the urban areas, as well as 122 private kindergartens,109 in the rural areas and 13 in the urban areas. The lack of adequate child care has led to one hand to withdrawl of women from labor force, and on the other to the low birth rate and natural growth of the population. The Lisbon Strategy might be a very improtant tool for Albanian government, since as far as gender equality in the labor market is concerned, it places emphasis on the eleminating of barriers for women through creation of kindergarten places for 90 % of 3 to 6 years old by the year 2010. It also aims at creation of child care places for 33 % of children below 3 years of age. The strategy also includes increase of employment rate of women to 60 %. School lunches, transportation, the system of orphanages to house and raise children born out of wedlock of teen mothers, will be other facilities to provide support that help women make transition work. Obviously, these policies are missing in Albania. In this case, it is clear to everyone committed to equal treatment and equality how much patience and time, let alone expertise, are required to restructure the social fabric and to modify cultural stereotypes, in particular when the winds of change are blowing in the wrong direction. Conclusion The myriad of issues the Albanian women had to face after the 90', are really diverse and almost impossible to be painted in just one paper. However, the above information and analysis show that during the transition period in Albania, women were the group that lost mostly in all the dimensions of the labor market. As a result women are the lowest income holders, the most possible group to be laid off, the most sacrificed taken in comparison to men, the least represented in the labor market, the group with the lowest economic status. The market liberalization through direct investments, though allowed for new opportunities in women's employment, was at the same time associated with changes that lead to unstable employment. On the other side, programs or initiatives for women's empowerment in Albania, which aim at women's wide participation in the job market, or alternatives that could help
with the solution of the problems meet with such a level, that is known as the neutral level, based on which women's issues are acknowledged, but in no way it is admitted her position is undermined. However, Albanian women are aware that creating free markets and establishing civil societies after decades of dictatorship requires time. However, Albanian women are sensitized that the composition of a gender balance in the economy is a foundational stone in the building of a democratic society, even for countries with a more difficult transition than the one in Albania. This is why it remains imperative for Albanian to be very straightforward in their efforts to improve their status, and have clear objectives aiming at gender equality. Prepared by Jeta Katro Beluli Predsident of MillenniumWomen Network