The National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova (CNSM), with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), launched on May 23, 2025, the information campaign “Work Legally for a Secure Future!”. The initiative aims to raise public awareness about the risks of the informal economy and the importance of legal employment.
The launch event took place at the House of Trade Unions, with the participation of members of the CNSM General Council, who convened to discuss a number of topics related to the Confederation’s activities.
“Undeclared work seriously affects both employees and the public budget, creating inequities and reducing resources available for health, education, and infrastructure,”
declared Igor Zubcu, President of CNSM, during the launch.
According to the CNSM President, the campaign especially targets economic sectors most vulnerable to the phenomenon of undeclared work, such as agriculture, construction, commerce, and industry. Among the announced measures are:
• informational outreach in local areas,
• meetings with graduates of vocational schools,
• the creation and broadcast of video spots in public transport, and
• active promotion of formal employment.
At the launch event of the national campaign “Work Legally for a Secure Future!”, Leonid Cerescu, President of the National Confederation of Employers of the Republic of Moldova, emphasized the importance of cooperation between employers and authorities in combating undeclared work, noting that trade unions play a key role in informing and sensitizing the population to effectively tackle this issue.
Mihai-Gabriel Ciobanu, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, encouraged the active involvement of all social partners in implementing the campaign and stressed that, through joint efforts, it is possible to build a fair and prosperous society where workers’ rights are respected and protected.
The event also included a video message from Maria Jose Chamorro, ILO expert, who reiterated the organization’s support for implementing labor market reforms. It was also announced that the Decent Work Country Program 2025–2027 will be signed in June, during the International Labour Conference in Geneva.
The campaign “Work Legally for a Secure Future!” represents another step in the ongoing effort to formalize the economy and guarantee the fundamental rights of employees in the Republic of Moldova.
The National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova carries out this campaign in line with its commitment to promote the rights and legitimate interests of employees, thus contributing to the development of a fair, transparent, and protected labor market.
As part of the campaign, various informational materials have been developed and can be accessed here:
According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2024, undeclared work affected 5.8% of employees, which is equivalent to approximately 40,000 people who were deprived of essential rights such as fair wages, paid leave, and social and health insurance.
