Constituents of the International Labour Organization (ILO), including representatives of the Government, trade unions, and employers, have established priorities for the new Decent Work Country Programme in the Republic of Moldova for the years 2025 – 2027.

During a workshop held in Chișinău last week, ILO constituents emphasized that the new Decent Work Country Programme, the sixth of its kind, will address the challenges of the labour market, the needs of workers, and contribute to the economic growth of the country and an improved quality of life in the Republic of Moldova.

Representatives of the National Trade Union Confederation (CNSM) proposed to include several priorities in the future Programme focused on the following objectives: strengthening social dialogue and collective bargaining; promoting the ratification and implementation of international labour standards; and enhancing employee protection.

Among the CNSM’s proposals for the future Decent Work Country Programme, the following are highlighted:

  • Strengthening the role of the National Commission for Consultations and Collective Bargaining (CNCNC) in the process of reviewing draft normative acts and increasing the capacity of the Commission’s secretariat in this regard.
  • Facilitating the exchange of experience of CNCNC with social dialogue structures from EU member countries.
  • Adopting the necessary legal framework for the transposition and implementation of EU Directive 2022/2041 on adequate minimum wages in the European Union.
  • Promoting social dialogue at all levels.
  • Adopting and implementing an Action Plan to promote collective bargaining and increase the coverage rate of employees under collective agreements.
  • Promoting the ratification and implementation of ILO Convention No. 102 regarding minimum standards in social security.
  • Promoting the ratification and implementation of ILO Convention No. 156 (1981) concerning equal opportunities and equal treatment for workers with family responsibilities.
  • Promoting the ratification and implementation of ILO Convention No. 173 concerning the protection of workers’ claims in the event of employer insolvency.
  • Supporting the development and implementation of a plan of measures to align the legal framework with ILO Convention No. 161 regarding occupational health services, ratified by the Republic of Moldova.
  • Implementing the National Programme to Reduce Unreported Work for the years 2024-2025.
  • Implementing an Electronic Register of Employees for all units in the national economy.
  • Implementing a Programme to improve occupational safety and health in sectors with high risks of accidents and illness (construction, agriculture, manufacturing, transport, and storage) for the years 2024-2028.
  • Establishing a Salary Claims Guarantee Fund in case of employer insolvency.
  • Creating a practical mechanism for amicable (extrajudicial) resolution of individual disputes.
  • Amending the Contravention Code to comprehensively cover all violations of labor legislation.

According to an ILO statement, key challenges in the labour market of the Republic of Moldova include low employment rates and high inactivity levels, particularly among youth, women, and older workers; an aging population and ongoing emigration; and a high level of informal work. At the same time, the Republic of Moldova has been proactive in introducing reforms in social protection and labour market policies, focusing on aligning with European Union standards.

Workshop participants established three priorities for the future Decent Work Country Programme: improved social dialogue (objectives: increasing the effectiveness of consultation and collective bargaining committees at branch, territorial, and unit levels); better labour market dynamics (objectives: activating the labour force, increasing labour productivity, fostering more competitive enterprises); and a sustainable social protection system (objectives: reducing informal work and transitioning to formal employment, strengthening occupational health services, and implementing an effective minimum wage policy).

All constituent parties (Government, trade unions, and employers) assured that they would actively engage in implementing the priorities set for the new Programme. The development of the Decent Work Country Programme for 2025-2027 is expected to be completed this year, with its signing scheduled for the first months of 2025.

It should be noted that the Decent Work Country Programme is an important planning tool through which the International Labour Organization provides support to member countries. The Programme employs a Results-Based Management approach adopted by the ILO as a support for the collaboration framework.