The Inspectorate reports that the highest number of cases of undeclared employment has been recorded in agriculture, construction, the hospitality industry (HoReCa), and retail.
The agency warns that workers without individual employment contracts do not enjoy the same legal protections as officially employed workers. They may be deprived of rights such as officially declared wages, paid sick leave, pension contributions, health insurance, and protection in the event of a workplace accident.
The agency did not specify what percentage of undeclared workers are Moldovan citizens and what percentage are from other countries.
Employers caught using undeclared labor face fines ranging from 3,000 to 15,000 lei, depending on their legal status. In the case of the illegal employment of a minor, a company may be fined up to 20,000 lei. If two or more workers are found without employment contracts, the fine can reach 75,000 lei.
Individuals and organizations that have been fined may pay 50% of the fine amount if payment is made within 30 days of the date the penalty was imposed, the labor inspectorate clarified.
