The National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova (CNSM), in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO), organised a tripartite round table on Monday 7 October to discuss the employment situation in the Republic of Moldova and the challenges facing workers. The event was organised in the context of the World Day for Decent Work on 7 October.

Opening the event, Igor Zubcu, President of the CNSM, stressed that this year the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) had urged trade unions around the world to focus their actions on peace and democracy, which are fundamental to a decent life for workers and their families. “It is essential that workers can work in peaceful conditions without putting their lives at risk. We stand in solidarity with workers in areas where military conflicts are taking place and we strongly support the peaceful resolution of any conflicts,” the union leader added.

“Despite the many challenges facing the labour market, promoting decent work in Moldova is a shared responsibility of the social partners and only through joint efforts can we ensure a future where every worker has the right to safe and fair work and equal opportunities for professional development and advancement,” said Igor Zubcu, President of CNSM.

In his speech, Igor Zubcu, President of the CNSM, highlighted a number of challenges that limit Moldova’s aspirations to ensure decent work for workers, including

– A significant part of the population faces difficulties in finding stable employment and many are forced to accept precarious jobs with low wages and no benefits;

– Workers’ rights and interests are often ignored, and discrimination and harassment remain widespread. An important step for the Republic of Moldova was the ratification of ILO Convention No. 190 on elimination of violence and harassment at work, which will enter into force in March 2025. The ratification of this Convention was made possible thanks to the trade unions and the ILO, which worked hard to achieve it;

– Working conditions do not meet occupational safety and health requirements, including international and European standards, and workers do not have adequate protection to eliminate workplace hazards. An important step in recognising the importance of ensuring safety and health at work was the adoption by delegates at the International Labour Conference two years ago of a resolution incorporating the right to a safe and healthy working environment into the ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

– The social protection system remains inadequate to ensure a decent life, especially in old age;

– the level of recognition and motivation for work falls far short of the needs of workers and their families.

“I believe that urgent measures are needed to ensure decent work and to support employers and workers, especially in the context of promoting the European vector. The CNSM is already a member of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), and we are part of the EU integration processes and give our full support to achieve this goal. I urge the social partners to work together to overcome the existing challenges so that the rights, interests and dignity of every worker are respected. Decent work is a shared responsibility and our efforts must become a tangible reality for all citizens of the Republic of Moldova”, stressed Igor Zubcu, President of the CNSM.

Also during the round table, the trade union leader reiterated the joint position of the CNSM and the National Confederation of Employers of the Republic of Moldova, which proposes to set the minimum wage at 6000 lei as of 1 January 2025, in order to ensure a constant and balanced increase of the minimum wage in the coming years, thus ensuring the implementation of the provisions of the European Union Directive 2022/2041.

It should be noted that the EU Directive 2022/2041 on adequate minimum wages in the European Union provides for certain procedures for establishing adequate legal minimum wages, which the EU Member States have to implement by 15 November this year. Moldova has committed itself to implement the Directive by September 2025.

The CNSM proposed to set concrete steps for the annual review of the level of the minimum wage, so that from 1 January 2027 the minimum wage in the country would be set at 50% of the average monthly wage forecast for the economy for the previous year. Trade unionists believe that the review of the minimum wage must take into account both the standards set at European level and the coverage of the needs of the worker and his family, inflation and other relevant indicators, including the maintenance of a skilled workforce.

The event was attended by Falk Lange, Head of the Council of Europe Office in the Republic of Moldova, Jānis Mažeiks, Ambassador, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, Adrian Belîi, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Protection, Health and Family, Corina Ajder, State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Vladislav Caminschi, Executive Director of the National Confederation of Employers of the Republic of Moldova, Ala Lipciu, National Coordinator of the ILO, Guido Beltrani, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office.

During an online intervention, Tea Jarc, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), spoke about the mechanisms of implementation of the EU Directive 2022/2041 of the European Parliament and of the Council on adequate minimum wages in the European Union, including the ETUC’s vision on this issue.

Sergiu Sainciuc, vice-president of the CNSM, also spoke about the employment situation from the point of view of ensuring decent work, the evolution of the general indicators of the labour market, the evolution of the number of employees, the characteristics of the labour force using the services of the National Agency for Employment, the reform of the National Agency for Employment, the indicators of work motivation and the evolution of wages.

It is worth mentioning that during the event Veaceslav Ionita, economist from the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS) “Viitorul”, presented the analytical note on the adjustment of the minimum wage in the Republic of Moldova to the EU standards. More information on the findings and recommendations of the economist will be available on the CNSM website in the near future.

It should be noted that the International Labour Organization defined the concept of decent work 25 years ago and developed a Decent Work Agenda, which focuses on job creation, rights at work, social protection and social dialogue, and gender equality. Decent work is not only a fundamental right, but also an essential condition for the development of a sustainable and prosperous society. It includes a fair wage, safe working conditions, access to social security, respect for human dignity and respect for the environment.

The World Day for Decent Work is celebrated annually on 7 October and was established at the initiative of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) as an opportunity to mobilise trade unions around the world to draw the attention of public authorities to the challenges facing workers in different regions of the world.