Moldovan women are still "catching up" with men
It’s important to negotiate “on shore”
The fact that women earn less than men has not been news for a long time. In absolute terms, the gender pay gap is about 16%. And the employment rate among women is lower than among men – mainly due to the presence of children under 16 in the family. MP Doina German once calculated that a woman needs to work until February 27 to earn as much as a man, i.e. 39 extra days more per year. For every 1 lei a man received, a woman would receive 0.84 lei in 2024.
However, few women know that actually a lot depends on themselves.
Polina Fisticanu, head of the Department of Socio-Economic Protection of the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova, points out that in some sectors, such as IT, financial and insurance sector, health care, and certain industries, there is a greater wage gap.
“Obviously, this can be explained both by the lower salaries associated with the positions held – executive, managerial and other positions – and by the fact that women are actually less likely to negotiate individually for higher salaries. And the Labor Code stipulates that one of the basic principles of labor relations is to ensure equal pay for work of equal value,” Fisticanu notes.
But there are, of course, factors beyond women’s control. In the social sphere, medicine and education, where women predominate, the level of salaries is usually lower.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova reiterated the importance of fairness in the workplace, respect for gender equality and equal opportunities, and non-discriminatory treatment of all women workers and employees.
Business does not have a woman’s face…?
Women head approximately 34% of operating businesses in Moldova, but businesses run by women generate only 23% of total company revenues. These findings are contained in the first study on women entrepreneurs’ access to finance, conducted by UN Women Moldova in partnership with the Association of Businesswomen of Moldova (AFAM).
Even when women have ideas, knowledge and skills, many still face obstacles in developing their businesses, especially in accessing finance. Yet success in entrepreneurship is not only measured by numbers, but also by resources adapted to real needs: 97% of female entrepreneurs would like to receive comprehensive support.
“It’s time to turn this data into concrete solutions for every woman who dares to create something . So that every woman’s dream can find its wings,” said Caroline Bugayan, AFAM Chairperson.
…and politics has it
In the Parliament, out of 101 deputies, 40 are women. The same figure was recorded in the previous convocation. This is a record level of women’s representation in the Moldovan parliament. And this is the case when legislative measures work. In 2016, a law on the minimum representation of women in the lists of candidates of political parties was adopted. The Parliament approved the norm according to which party and electoral lists should have a minimum of 40% of female candidates and candidates of each gender.
In the Secretariat of the Parliament, the number of women exceeds 77% (151) of all civil servants in the institution!
But in the Government, women are less well represented: of the 17 cabinet members, only four are women.
Access to justice
Women’s access to justice in Moldova is improving, but serious problems remain. This is the conclusion of the UN Women agency.
Legislative reforms aligned with EU accession commitments introduced measures to promote gender equality, combat violence, criminalize femicide, digital violence and forced marriage, increase penalties for harassment at work and on business trips, and there are plans to increase liability for non-payment of alimony.
However, significant gaps remain in the practice of the law: weak implementation of norms, low gender sensitivity in justice reform, limited access to legal aid, and disproportionate barriers for rural women, Roma women, women with disabilities, and women living in poverty.
According to UNDP, 41% of women have little or no trust in the justice system. Women feel the effects of legal proceedings more strongly. They are poorly informed about the right to public legal aid.
“Equal access to justice must become a reality. It must be ensured not only in laws, but also in budgets, institutions and the daily lives of women and girls. Women are not asking for benefits, they are asking for equality and justice,” said Dominica Stojanosca, representative of UN Women Moldova.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the organization announced the launch of the global campaign “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls”. The initiative aims to ensure legal protection for all women.
