On Wednesday, 19 August 2026, workers from the education and science sectors across the country gathered in Great National Assembly Square in Chișinău for a trade union protest organized by the Trade Union Federation of Education and Science (FSEȘ). Trade unionists called for the fulfilment of the commitment to increase salaries starting from 1 September 2026. The National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova (CNSM) and the national-branch trade union centres expressed solidarity with the demands of education and science workers and stood alongside them.

The trade union action was prompted by concerns regarding the fulfilment of the commitment announced by the authorities to increase the salaries of workers in education and science starting from 1 September 2026. For trade unionists, this demand concerns not only income levels, but also dignity, respect for work, and recognition of the strategic role of education and science in the country’s development.

President of the National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova (CNSM), Igor Zubcu, stressed that treating education as a genuine priority must be reflected concretely in the budget, salary levels, and the respect shown to those working in the sector. The trade union leader pointed out that performance cannot be expected from people whose remuneration is at the subsistence level and called on the Government and Parliament to identify the resources necessary to increase salaries in education, so that the remuneration of workers in the sector is treated as a strategic investment in the future of the Republic of Moldova.

“The main issue that brought us into the streets is about dignity, respect and keeping one’s word. We are not asking for privileges or favours, but for commitments to be honoured and for teachers’ salaries to reflect both the work they perform and the strategic importance of education for the country’s future,” said Ghenadie Donos, President of the Trade Union Federation of Education and Science.

FSEȘ considers a decent salary to be a right, not a privilege, and believes that the work performed by teaching staff, auxiliary staff and research workers must be recognised through fair and motivating remuneration. In the Resolution adopted during the protest, trade unionists stressed that education and science cannot be considered priorities only at the declarative level, but must be supported through public policies and concrete decisions.

Trade Unionists’ Demands

The main demand of the protest participants is the fulfilment of the commitment to increase salaries in education and science starting from 1 September 2026. Trade unionists call for this increase to be clearly provided for in the relevant legislation and effectively reflected in workers’ incomes.

At the same time, FSEȘ calls for a genuine and equitable salary increase that would contribute to improving workers’ living standards and reducing existing disparities between different categories of workers in the public sector.

The Federation points out that salary levels are essential for increasing the attractiveness of the teaching profession and careers in research, attracting and retaining young specialists, and preventing the loss of qualified workers.

Another demand concerns respect for the principles of social partnership and ensuring genuine social dialogue. FSEȘ calls for the effective involvement of the trade union organisation in the development and implementation of decisions concerning remuneration and working conditions for workers in the sector.

Trade unionists also call for salary predictability, so that workers in education and science can know in advance the prospects and mechanisms for increasing their incomes and benefit from professional security and stability.

FSEȘ stresses that recognition of the strategic importance of education and research must also be reflected in salary levels. “Investment in education, science and the people working in these fields is not an expense, but an investment in the country’s future,” the protest Resolution states.

During the action, the Federation sent a firm message to the Government and Parliament and called for the concrete mechanism for increasing salaries, the amount of the increase and the financial measures necessary to honour the commitment to increase workers’ incomes to be presented as soon as possible.

“PROMISES MUST BE KEPT! 1 SEPTEMBER 2026 MUST BECOME THE DATE OF A REAL SALARY INCREASE, NOT ANOTHER PROMISE!” — this was the central message of the Resolution adopted by the protest participants.

Authorities Engaged in Dialogue with Protesters

During the action, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun, and Minister of Finance Victoria Belous came out to the trade unionists and engaged in dialogue with the protesters.

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan stressed that investment in education is a priority for the Government and emphasised that relaunching the economy is necessary to achieve these objectives. He also stated that the authorities would present the solutions identified for increasing teachers’ salaries.

FSEȘ warned that, if the demands are not addressed and the commitments undertaken are not honoured, the Federation reserves the right to resort to all legal forms of trade union action until concrete and agreed solutions are secured.

The message conveyed by the trade unionists is firm: “We demand respect for work! We demand fairness! We demand decent salaries! We demand that promises be kept!”

United, we are stronger!

In solidarity, we can be heard!