The event took place within the framework of the High-Level Conference on Social Rights, held in Chisinau and organized by the Council of Europe in partnership with the Moldovan Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the UN Population Fund and the International Labour Organization.
Population and fertility decline reduces the number and opportunities for future labor market participants and increases pressure on economic and social systems. In this context, the discussion focused on increasing family support and women’s participation in the labor market, the need to invest in reproductive health, promoting new skills and active aging.
Measures to support families
In the face of these structural changes, the authorities have in recent years accelerated the implementation of a number of measures aimed at supporting families and promoting women’s integration in the labor market. Among the most significant measures are the extension of parental leave for both parents, the introduction of flexible working hours, the development of a national fund for kindergartens and the promotion of transparency in women’s wages.
“The employment rate of women with young children has increased significantly, from 34% in 2019 to 40% now,” said Marina Morozova, vice-chair of the Commission for Social Protection in Parliament. – “The measures we are promoting are designed to ensure that our citizens can stay at home and raise future generations in a supportive environment.
By expanding childcare infrastructure and actively engaging the private sector to create family-friendly jobs, Moldova can turn these factors into engines of growth and prosperity, experts said.
