Albania to raise healthcare, education staff salaries

TIRANA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Albanian government has decided to raise the salaries of healthcare and education staff, respectively by 40 percent and 15 percent starting from Jan. 1 next year, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Tuesday.

Rama made this statement during a joint press conference with Minister of Finance and Economy Anila Denaj. According to Rama, during the two mandates of his government, salary funds have increased from 450 million U.S. dollars to 710 million dollars.

Rama noted that next week his cabinet will announce the changes on the minimum wage which as well will enter into force on Jan. 1.

According to Denaj, the salary raise will benefit a total of 18,415 employees in the health system, while in the pre-university education system, the salary increase will benefit 35,883 employees.

In the last 24 hours, health authorities in Albania reported 158 new coronavirus cases, raising the total to 14,568, with 8,965 recoveries and 403 fatalities.