Currently, an uninsured woman is entitled to a maternity benefit calculated based on her spouse’s income, provided he participates in the state social insurance system. However, this option is not available to women who are not in a registered marriage, even if the child’s father has officially acknowledged paternity and fulfills his parental responsibilities.
The changes approved by the government at its July 22 meeting stipulate that the benefit may also be calculated based on the insured income of the child’s father, regardless of whether the parents are legally married.
The changes will affect nearly one in five families
According to the Public Services Agency, about 19% of children in Moldova are born out of a registered marriage.
The government believes that the new rules will reduce the financial burden on families during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as ensure equal access to state support regardless of the parents’ marital status.
As the authors of the initiative note, the changes are aimed at creating a more equitable and inclusive social protection system that meets European standards.
