Albania reports rise in workplace deaths, urges stricter safety

Data from the Central Labor Inspection show that about 20 workers died on the job in 2025 and more than ten fatal accidents have been recorded so far in 2026. The latest incident occurred on 28 July when a young construction worker fell from a crane at a building site in Prishtina.

Occupational‑safety expert Agim Millaku says the main cause of these fatalities is the lack of preventive measures by both employers and workers. He stresses that employers must develop detailed execution plans for each work phase, inform the inspection authority before starting work, and ensure workers are aware of risks. Millaku also notes a shortage of inspectors relative to the number of sites, which hampers effective oversight.

The Ministry of Labour plans to support inspections with digital systems and drones starting 1 September 2026, a move Millaku welcomes as it could improve monitoring of open‑air sites and reduce subjectivity in inspections.