News about Social sphere

In the last three election cycles, the quota system (40% gender representation on candidate lists) has led to a record number of women in parliament and local councils. However, the representation of other vulnerable groups in these bodies remains insufficient.

According to Eurostat data, EU residents work an average of 35.9 hours per week. This figure includes both full-time and part-time workers aged 20 to 64, based on their primary place of employment.

Spain, Italy, and France are the European countries where public opposition to mass tourism is most pronounced. This is according to a new study by the digital platform JB.com, which analyzes protest activity and the burden on the population.

The tax reform proposed for 2027, which calls for the introduction of a 20 percent VAT rate on medicines and medical supplies, risks destroying the healthcare system and triggering a chain reaction of price increases. Health Minister Emil Cheban made this statement, noting that his ministry had issued a negative opinion on the bill.

Hundreds of people gathered Saturday in front of the Castres City Theater in southern France to protest the cancellation of the play “Passeport.”

Starting in 2027, the rules for calculating maternity benefits in Moldova may change. For some women, these benefits may be significantly lower, particularly for those who do not have sufficient official work experience.

Ukrainian law enforcement officials suspect a group of government officials and private entrepreneurs of organizing a scheme to embezzle budget funds allocated for humanitarian demining of agricultural land in the Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv regions.  

The Chisinau City Hall announces that on Sunday, June 28, 2026, the capital will host an anniversary concert by conductor Gheorghe Mustea, an honorary citizen of the city.

At today’s meeting, the administrative council of the “Forța Fermierilor” Association of Grain and Oilseed Producers confirmed its intention to support the farmers’ protest scheduled for June 24 in several districts. Furthermore, the organization’s leadership promised that tomorrow, after gathering and compiling information from the field, it would notify interested parties through the media of the gathering points for people and farm equipment intending to participate in the protest.

On Wednesday, the government will consider a draft resolution on the establishment and organization of the National Crisis Management Commission, which will completely replace the current Emergency Situations Commission.

Paraguay national team midfielder Matías Galarza was one of the standout players in the 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Turkey. He opened the scoring just 65 seconds into the match, scoring the fastest goal of the tournament and securing a narrow 1-0 victory for his team. This result kept Paraguay’s hopes alive for advancing to the next round of the competition.

Based on this indicator, Moldova ranks among the world’s top 10, alongside countries such as Hungary (20%) and Greece (19%), and ahead of the United States (17%).

British Prime Minister Kir Starmer announced his resignation and his departure as leader of the Labour Party in a special address delivered before entering his residence.

Every year, between 1,250 and 1,500 open-heart surgeries are performed in Moldova, of which approximately 650–800 are performed at the T. Moshnyaga Republican Clinical Hospital. It is the only public institution in the country where pediatric cardiac surgery is performed.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization has updated the Republic of Moldova’s Classification of Occupations (CMCO) by approving three new occupational standards. The ministry’s corresponding order has been published and has entered into force.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga sharply criticized Polish President Karol Nawrocki’s decision to strip Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle—the country’s highest state honor. According to the head of Ukrainian diplomacy, Kyiv does not intend to let such actions go unanswered.

The Federation of Public Service Workers’ Unions (SINDASP), which represents the interests of more than 16,000 union members, expresses its concern and disagreement with the bills concerning the reform of tax, customs policy, and the wage system. The organization notes that, in addition to reducing pay scales and cutting a number of wage supplements, the government is blocking collective bargaining and restricting workers’ labor rights.

Starting July 1, 2026, the National Social Insurance Fund of Moldova (NSIF) and the National Social Security Institute of Spain (INSS) will implement a system for the electronic exchange of forms and documents between the agencies responsible for providing social benefits to citizens.

Turkey, India, and Brazil topped the global ranking of countries whose residents most frequently experience feelings of loneliness and social isolation. These findings come from a study by the JB.com platform, which covered 36 countries.

Members of the Labour Party have expressed dissatisfaction with Keir Starmer. This was prompted by the party’s failure in the local elections. The politician attributed this setback to his own mistake.