From Cash to Coupons: Albanian Police Grapple with New Overtime Compensation
In a move that has stirred controversy among Albania’s law enforcement community, the government has overhauled its system for compensating police officers’ overtime. Gone are the days of cash payouts; now, officers navigate a new world of food coupons. However, this change has brought many unexpected challenges and raised eyebrows nationwide.
The Supermarket Monopoly: A Recipe for Discontent
A troubling pattern has emerged as the dust settles on this new policy. Despite claims of an open and competitive process, many officers report feeling pressured to use their coupons at a single supermarket chain: Spar. This limitation has sparked frustration and raised questions about potential conflicts of interest.
“In the office, they told me to go to get the card [coupon] and that it can be used only in this [Spar] shop,” confided one officer from northern Albania. For this officer and many others, the new system doesn’t just limit their shopping options—it creates logistical nightmares. Some find themselves travelling over 100 kilometres to use their hard-earned compensation.
Adding fuel to the fire is the connection between Spar and Tirana Bank, owned by Samir Mane, one of Albania’s wealthiest businessmen. This link has led to allegations of undue influence and market manipulation.
A Closer Look: Transparency Concerns and Economic Impact
While government officials and bank representatives maintained that the process was open and competitive, a cloud of suspicion hung over the arrangement. The Ministry of Interior has remained tight-lipped, and other supermarket chains in Tirana claim no involvement in the coupon system.
Eduart Gjokutaj, an economic expert with the financial education NGO Altax, doesn’t mince words: “Such acts can benefit specific businesses and lead to de-facto monopolies in the market. It needs to be analysed whether there is [state] capture there.”
The lack of a transparent public procurement process and the introduction of unnecessary service fees have raised concerns about the actual cost of this new system—both financially and in terms of officer morale.
As one officer poignantly stated, “This money belongs to me. I earned it by serving the state. I would like to have the choice to spend it as I wish and not be forced to purchase this or that food item in a supermarket they chose.”
Ultimately, what was intended as a simple change in compensation has become a flashpoint for more significant debates about transparency, fairness, and the relationship between government and business in Albania. As the situation unfolds, many wonder who benefits from this new system and at what cost to those who serve and protect.
