Decent work, the only sustainable way of reducing poverty, building democracy and social cohesion

“Changing the rules for decent work” was the theme of the roundtable organized by the National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova (CNSM) on October 5, with the participation of representatives of the social partners, of the International Labour Organization, an event dedicated to the World Day for Decent Work .

It was not by chance that this generic was chosen. Because, as Petru Chiriac vice-president of the CNSM explained, who presented a comprehensive report on this subject, the International Confederation of Trade Unions launched the campaign “Change the rules for decent work”, supported by CNSM. Through this initiative, he said, it is aimed at raising awareness on decent work by citizens, decision-makers and key institutions in the field; demonstrating that decent work is the only sustainable way of reducing poverty, building democracy and social cohesion; placing the phenomenon of decent work as the foundation of economic, commercial, financial and social policies promoted at national, European and international level.

The vice-president of the CNSM has pointed out that the trade unions, together with the social partners, will develop a better legal and institutional framework for the social dialogue at branches and territories that will effectively contribute to changing the rules for decent work. These actions, said Petru Chiriac, will be undertaken so that the employees and all citizens of the Republic of Moldova will feel the improvement of the socio-economic situation in the country.

By sounding the employers’ position towards the decent work phenomenon, Vladislav Caminschi, executive director of the National Employers’ Confederation of the Republic of Moldova, said that decent work is the cornerstone of the employers’ work in the country. He noted that decent work means first and foremost a decent job for workers in enterprises of the country as to become more sustainable, which implies certain imperative conditions, such as reducing the tax burden, affecting employees’ incomes, streamlining controls, the de-bureaucratisation of labour relations.

“Promoting decent work is also an initiative of the International Labour Organization (ILO),” said Ala Lipciu, the national coordinator of the International Labour Organization. She pointed out that, according to the ILO, the phenomenon of decent work focuses on four basic components: the right to free and productive employment for both generations, social protection that truly protects life-threatening risks, the right to work for employees, even for those working in the informal sector, social dialogue involving all labour market actors.

“The concept of decent work is a complex one,” Anastasia Oceretnii, state secretary of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection, declared at the event. However, she insisted, the most important thing is that every job is safe, paid to the right value, to allow the employee to grow professionally.

Oleg Budza, president of the CNSM, stressed that work is the main element in the process of creating material and spiritual goods. Therefore, he stressed, over the years, the trade unions are fighting for employees’ rights, trying through negotiations with employers, the Government to identify solutions that ensure decent working conditions. By organizing this event, Oleg Budza said, CNSM wanted to point out that there is much more to be done in ensuring decent work in our country, in terms of working conditions, health and hygiene, and the level of payment. He therefore insisted that the social partners should change the rules for decent work, reduce poverty, improve the quality of the social justice system.

Round table participants, representatives of the social partners, have adopted an appeal through which they have made more commitments to citizens to ensure decent work.

Department of mass media and international relations of CNSM