The National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova (CNSM) and the National Confederation of Employers of the Republic of Moldova (CNPM) propose to set the minimum wage at 6000 lei as of January 1, 2025, so as to ensure a constant and balanced increase of the minimum wage in the coming years, ensuring the implementation of the provisions of the European Union Directive 2022/2041.

This proposal was discussed today, August 13, at the meeting of the National Commission for Consultations and Collective Bargaining. This proposal was also presented to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Dorin Recean, in a joint action of the CNSM and CNPM.

“Given the need to ensure a decent standard of living for employees, we believe that raising the minimum wage is not only necessary, but also beneficial for society as a whole, as it is an important tool not only to reduce poverty and staff turnover, but also to support the national economy by stimulating consumption and increasing the national public budget revenues,” it is mentioned in the request.

Trade unions and employers’ organizations note that the current minimum wage of 5 thousand lei provides only about 70% of the subsistence minimum for an employee and a minor child, and the national economy continues to face challenges in maintaining and attracting labour force.

The request of the two social partners also points out that the National Action Plan for Moldova’s accession to the EU for the years 2024-2027 provides for the transposition by September 2025 of EU Directive 2022/2041 on adequate minimum wages in the EU, which is an important European standard that provides the mechanism for setting the minimum wage for all EU member states. This mechanism is also provided for by the European Social Charter (revised), partially ratified by the Republic of Moldova by Law No. 484 of 28.09.2001.

It should be noted that, as a candidate country for accession to the EU, the Republic of Moldova has undertaken to bring its national legislation into line with the acquis communautaire and, by signing the Declaration of alignment with the EU’s European Pillar of Social Rights, to contribute to ensuring decent working and living conditions for employees. The European Pillar of Social Rights is a joint proclamation by the heads of the EU institutions committing to 20 principles in the field of social policy, including the right to fair wages and a decent standard of living.

We note that as of January 1, 2024, the amount of the minimum wage in the country constitutes 5000 lei per month, which represents an increase of 25% compared to the amount of the minimum wage in the country set for 2023. This result was achieved as a result of the repeated insistence of the CNSM in dialogue with the social partners.