Petru Chiriac: We need investments, but not at the expense of workers’ rights

The social partners in the country participated on Friday, September 30, at a round table on decent work, organized by the National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova (CNSM). The activity was held on the occasion of October 7 in the context of marking the World Day for Decent Work, which this year will be themed “Stop corporate greed.”

According to Petru Chiriac, vice president of CNSM, Moldova is not spared by the globalization and negative impact of multinational corporations. “We are “suitable” for them as long as we have the lowest costs for labour, not impose strict compliance with working conditions, assume payment of wages “in envelopes”, disclaims any employers in relation to the employee and liberalize endlessly working relations. Yes, we need investments to grow the economy and create new jobs and a good business environment, but we must not abuse of workers’ rights and actions against them,” he emphasized.

“We need to promote and support those companies that respect the principles of decent work and to not admit into the country those who have interest in exploiting resources and our workers, pursuing only their own profit, undermining the future of the young and depriving nations of sustainable development” said vice-president of CNSM.

Referring to the concept of decent work as essential to reducing poverty and ensuring sustainable, inclusive and equitable development, Chiriac said that trade unionists, as in other years, bring to the attention of social partners claims that refer to ensuring fair remuneration of employment, better quality jobs, secure social protection, respect of the rights and freedoms of employees.

“Decent work means respecting a set of principles in achieving labour relations. Here it must be mentioned such rights of employees as lifelong training, equal opportunities for all workers, the possibility of joining trade union structures and implementation of a social dialogue with the social partners, social protection at a high level. Unfortunately, we arrears in this chapter, but with the support of the International Labour Organisation, under the Decent Work Country Programme for the years 2016-2020, hopefully we achieve some progress and we will approach to the standards of “decent work”,” concluded Chiriac.

Present at the event, Raisa Scai, Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Protection and Family, said that the government continues to strive and implement policies to improve the working conditions of employees. “In the global context, the Decent Work Agenda aims to reduce poverty by creating jobs, promoting social dialogue and increase the level of rights of employees to the right to work. These goals stood at the base of decent work country programs, which constituted since 2006, the cooperation framework between Moldova and the International Labour Organisation,” she said.

Leonid Cerescu, president of the National Confederation of Employers of Moldova, cited the need to create a labour market adaptable to future challenges. “We need attractive conditions for business activity and not vice versa, as experiencing in recent years. The share of the informal economy increases and of jobs diminish, and we all talk and nothing undertake. Unfair competition must be eliminated,” underlined Cerescu.

In turn, Igor Ciloci, deputy director of the State Labour Inspectorate, said that the institution he represents annual performs over 6000 inspections at workplaces in which verifies the working conditions of employees. “The most frequent violations occur in unprotected areas of labour relations, which constitute 70% of violations, related mainly to low wages and salaries. Situation remains complicated regarding health and safety at work, where we find total ignorance of employers,” he explained.

World Day for Decent Work is marked annually on October 7 and was established on the initiative of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Department of mass media and international relations