Igor Zubku
In 2025, 603 victims of work-related accidents were registered in Moldova, of which 19 cases ended in death. Employers’ expenses related to occupational injuries amounted to 6.6 million lei.
The highest number of incidents was recorded in industry, trade, public administration, construction, transportation, health care and social assistance. The average duration of incapacity for work per injured person amounted to 34 days.
These data were presented at the round table “The role of social partners in ensuring a psychosocially healthy working environment”, organized by the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova (CNSM) in the context of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which is celebrated annually on 28 April.
The effect of digitalization
According to Igor Zubcu, chairman of the CNSM, modern approaches to occupational safety and health increasingly include psychosocial aspects in the context of digitalization and intensification of work processes. He highlighted risks such as chronic stress, excessive workload, burnout and harassment, emphasizing their systemic nature and impact on work processes.
In this context, the issue of introducing measures to protect workers was raised, including the right to disconnect (not to answer work calls, emails and messengers outside working hours), to limit workload and access to psychological support, and to strengthen social dialogue and collective labor agreements.
Separately, the need to strengthen the capacity of the State Labor Inspectorate to respond to new challenges and to implement relevant European approaches was noted.
According to the International Labor Organization Budapest Office, more than 840,000 deaths worldwide each year are related to psychosocial risks in the workplace.
The European Parliament recommended as early as 2021 to enshrine the right of workers to disconnect as an important measure to protect their physical and mental health in the digital transformation of work.
