Protests in Memory of Workers Who Suferred Injuries in the Work Place
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The Confederation of Albanian Trade Unions, the Mjaft! Movement and other labor union groups held protests last Thusrday, May 1, in the Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, demanding better working conditions. May 1 is the day where the workers openly speak and present their complaints and demands regarding the working conditions.
`In 2007, over 300 work-related accidents were registered in Albania, with 44 casualties and hundreds of injuries. Such figures lead us to believe that workers` safety is always at risk due to lack of safety measures` say the organizers. The protesters paid respect to their colleagues that fell victims to inhuman working conditions with a moment of silence and declared May 1 the day of mourning for the workers. `We are gathered here to commemorate the ones who could not be with us today - the miners, metal workers, miners. We are here today to demand from the Albanian State to respect the law and not become accomplice to the murders of the citizens with their irresponsibility`, said the organizers in a joint declaration. The protesters headed to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy where they accused Minister Genc Ruli for the death of workers in 2007. `We demand from the Prime Minister and other officials not to come and visit us on this day of mourning, or on other sad occasions when they fail to protect the lives of the citizens. We demand from the elected officials to draft legislation so that the citizens` are not staggered by the bombs and employees not to face with every day Gėrdec`s, said the organizers in front of the Ministry. (Note: Gerdec is a village near Tirana in which recent explosion at an ammunitions depot killed 26 and injured 300 people.) |
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