Trade union representatives call this initiative insufficiently justified and claim that it calls into question the Republic of Moldova’s compliance with its international obligations.
According to union leaders, this proposal would reduce the current level of worker protection and conflict with the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention on Paid Leave, which Moldova has ratified. The CNSM points out that when the convention was ratified, the duration of vacation was set at 24 working days, and the international document itself allows only for an increase, but not a reduction, in this period.
In addition, the trade unions cite the Association Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, which explicitly prohibits lowering the level of social and labor protection for citizens for the sake of stimulating trade or attracting investment.
Authoritative international organizations also note that since the adoption of the Labor Code of the Republic of Moldova in 2003, no comments have been received from relevant bodies regarding the current regulations on the granting of leave. According to the labor unions, this only confirms that the current regulatory framework is fully compliant with international standards.
The labor unions state that they remain open to dialogue, but insist on a balanced solution—maintaining the duration of vacation at 24 working days (based on a five-day workweek), which is in line with international practice and guarantees the preservation of the current level of social protection for workers.
Earlier, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Natalia Plugaru stated that the proposed changes to the method of calculating annual paid leave would not lead to a reduction in the number of vacation days or the amount of vacation pay. According to her, the amount of vacation pay will not decrease, and all vacation days accrued before the new rules take effect will be preserved.
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