Sergiu Sainciuc
“We are the poorest country in Europe and we have the lowest minimum and average wages. Of course, we would like that in 3-4 years, when Moldova joins the European Union, we would not be in the last place – let someone else from the EU countries be behind us. It would be good for us to make a breakthrough in labor remuneration. The minimum wage of 5500 lei is not bad in principle, but it is still too low,” Sainciuc said at a round table at the National Institute of Economic Research.
He emphasized that the current minimum wage lags behind the necessary norms, which is confirmed by statistics.
“In the first half of this year, the subsistence minimum averages 3,049 lei. If we take an able-bodied adult – it is 3254 lei, for a child – 3034 lei. Together it comes out about 6300 lei – the minimum subsistence minimum for an adult and a child. But this is net, while the minimum wage is gross. If we add taxes, contributions and other compulsory payments, the required minimum wage should be 7975 lei – almost 50% of the projected average wage”.
According to the union leader, the upcoming discussions with the government and employers will be key to establishing a fair minimum wage:
“There is a meeting of the National Consultation and Collective Bargaining Commission ahead. There we need to discuss the future minimum wage. Where does that leave us? November-December – budgets need to be approved, and employers need to understand what to expect next year in terms of wages. We are not talking about raising salaries in the budget or public sector, but about the state minimum guarantee – the minimum wage, which should be sufficient for the reproduction of unskilled labor force,” Sainchuk stressed.
He also noted that investing in wages instead of increasing spending on minimum pensions would help not only now, but also in the long term to reduce poverty and ensure the sustainability of the social system.
According to the NIEI, the poverty rate in Moldova increased 1.43 times in 2019-2024: if in 2019 every fourth person was poor, in 2024 – already every third person. The depth and severity of poverty increased significantly. To get out of poverty, in 2024, on average, 185 lei per month had to be added, compared to 77 lei in 2019.
The unions intend to use the information presented at the roundtable at the NIEI as an argument in the upcoming negotiations at the National Commission for Consultation and Collective Bargaining.
It should be reminded that last week Moldovan trade unions demanded to raise the minimum wage to 8050 lei (almost 48 lei per hour). In their opinion, this level should provide a decent living wage for a family and correspond to 50% of the projected average wage of 16,100 lei. The employers promised to consider the proposal in a broad consensus before signing the final document. Currently, the minimum wage in Moldova is 5,500 lei per month or 32.54 lei per hour.
