The Council of Ministers, at its meeting this Wednesday, adopted several decisions, including a 2.5% salary indexation for certain categories within the public administration.
The indexation will benefit employees of the Fire Protection and Rescue Service. According to the decision, the 2.5% indexation and salary increase policy apply to employees holding the ranks of “Assistant Firefighter,” “Firefighter,” “Chief Firefighter,” “Deputy Fire Commissioner,” and “Fire Commissioner.”
Employees of local government units and Albanian personnel serving in the country’s diplomatic missions abroad will also benefit from the salary indexation.
Key Points of the Decision
The amendments introduce changes to several previous Council of Ministers decisions regulating salary structures.
Regarding the Fire Protection and Rescue Service, the updated annex replaces Annex No. 1 of Decision No. 419, dated June 26, 2024, reflecting the 2.5% indexation and salary increase policy. The financial effects for 2026 will be covered by the budgets of the respective institutions, as approved in the 2026 State Budget Law. For local government units, the costs will be covered by state transfers and their own revenues. The decision takes effect after publication in the Official Gazette and applies from January 1, 2026.
Local Government Administration
Amendments were also made to Decision No. 328, dated May 31, 2023, concerning the classification of functions and salary limits for elected officials, civil servants, and administrative employees of local government units.
Under the revised decision, the base salary limits for administrative employees of local government units will range from 50,000 to 57,000 lek per month. The revised salary thresholds and position-based pay elements reflect the 2.5% indexation and the salary increase policy. The financial impact for 2026 will be covered by state transfers and local government revenues, effective from January 1, 2026.
Diplomatic Missions and International Assignments
Further amendments were introduced to Decision No. 324, dated May 31, 2023, concerning the salaries of Albanian personnel serving in diplomatic missions abroad, military representations to NATO, international organizations, and other liaison roles.
The changes expand the categories of beneficiaries to include investigators of the National Bureau of Investigation appointed as liaison officers to EUROPOL or SELEC, as well as seconded officials from the Financial Intelligence Agency serving in project management positions within international bodies.
Investigators appointed as liaison officers will receive a gross monthly salary equivalent to their previous position, along with a cost-of-living allowance of:
- €280 per month when assigned to EUROPOL;
- €180 per month when assigned to SELEC.
All salary elements defined in the annexes reflect the 2.5% indexation. The financial effects will either take effect from the date of appointment or from January 1, 2026, depending on the specific provision, and will be covered by the approved 2026 institutional budgets.
The decision enters into force upon publication in the Official Gazette.
