The lack of labor force during the tourist season in Vlora has made businesses to look for employees in the foreign market. Tourist operators in Vlora and Rradhim have hired foreigners from Sri Lanka, Turkey or Nepal.

These citizens have chosen to work in Vlora for higher wages that Albania offers compared to the countries where they live. Andrea and Vino are 2 of the 6 workers from Sri Lanka who work in hotel cleaning and beach maintenance.

“I am 23 years old, I come from Sri Lanka, I will work for 6 months and return to my hometown, I have parents, two brothers and a sister. The salary is good $400 per month, in Sri Lanka the economy is very weak. The conditions here are good,” said Andrea.

“I am from Sri Lanka and I chose to come to work for the salary, $600 is good. I work in hotel cleaning. It is the second time in Albania, I was in Tirana before, now in Vlora. Communication is also simple since everyone speaks English”, said Vino.

Sotiri, who has been working for 15 years as a master painter near the hotel structure, says that the help is great since the lack of labor force penalizes the structures during the season.

“Here are good people working, fortunately I speak English and we understand each other. Salaries are normal like the market in Albania, over 400. They give us a hand because we have a shortage of workers. Our young people? They don’t want to, everyone is running away and we are forced to take these,” said Sotir Xholaj.

The manager of the hotel unit told Euronews Albania that currently there are 8 foreigners working in the hotel, from Sri Lanka and Turkey. In the following days, 14 more workers from Nepal are expected.