The meeting will consider a bill to amend a number of regulatory acts, drafted by the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization. Labor unions believe that the document goes beyond the stated goal of deregulation and contains numerous provisions affecting the areas of labor and social protection.
According to the CNSM, the draft bill provides for substantial changes to the Labor Code that could have a significant impact on labor relations and reduce the level of protection guaranteed to workers.
“These changes could affect the legal rights and interests of workers, as they provide for a reduction in the level of protection guaranteed by labor legislation, which contradicts the obligations assumed by the Republic of Moldova under Article 371 of the Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union,” according to a statement by the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova.
The organization also points out that the bill contains other amendments which, in the opinion of the trade unions, are outside the scope of this initiative and raise serious concerns regarding compliance with international labor standards, the protection of workers’ rights, and the quality of the legislative process.
Among the affected laws are the Law on Wages, the Law on Occupational Health and Safety, the Law on the Status of Foreigners in the Republic of Moldova, the Law on the Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, and the Law on Employment Promotion and Unemployment Insurance.
Furthermore, the CNSM asserts that the draft law did not undergo genuine and effective consultations with social partners and was not reviewed within the framework of the national social dialogue system, which, according to the trade unions, contradicts the principles of social partnership and the requirements of national legislation.
Following the trade unions’ statement, Deputy Prime Minister Eugeniu Osmochescu met with representatives of the National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova. According to a statement from the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, the meeting focused on issues related to the labor market, economic development, and the need for effective dialogue between the state and social partners. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of balanced rules for employers and employees.
