Moldova Plans New Parental Leave Rules Under Labour Code Reform

The Labour Code will be amended with regard to childcare leave

Each employed parent would be entitled to a separate two-month period of childcare leave, which cannot be transferred to the other parent. This provision is set out in a draft bill drawn up by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, with a view to bringing national legislation into line with European Union rules.

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According to the draft, if one of the parents does not take the allocated period, the family will lose these two months from the total duration of the leave. The measure will not apply in certain special circumstances, such as single-parent families or cases where one of the parents is deceased, has a severe disability or is working abroad.

The draft also provides for the extension of paternity leave from 15 calendar days to 15 working days, as well as the granting of up to five working days of unpaid leave per year to care for a spouse, children or parents.

Another new provision is the introduction of the right to take time off work in the event of a family emergency, for up to one working day per incident and a maximum of three days per year, without these absences being deducted from annual leave.

Furthermore, employees on a flexible working arrangement will be able to request an early return to their original working arrangements.

Figures for 2025 showed that 5,023 fathers took paternity leave, whilst 1,088 men took childcare leave.

The new provisions are due to come into force following the adoption and entry into force of the law.

This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.

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