Employees in the country contributed approximately Lek 15.7 billion - or around Euro 197 million - to the state treasury for social and health insurance schemes during the month of August alone.

Official data from the General Directorate of Taxes show that Lek 1.7 billion more was collected - an increase of 12% - compared to August of the previous year.

According to the tax administration, effective tax management and measures implemented under operational plans - focused on increasing formalization and ensuring compliance with obligations - are significantly reflected in the rise of insurance contributions.

This performance has been driven by several key developments. First, wage increases in the public sector, followed by the private sector, have led to a significant rise in the country's average wage, which has reached approximately 1,000 euros per month. Consequently, the amount of contributions paid by employees has also increased.