The National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova and the International Labor Organization intensifies the bilateral cooperation

The National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova (CNSM) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) will intensify the collaboration in various directions in the year 2020. This fact was communicated today, on March 6, in a working meeting organized by the CNSM leadership with Sergeyus Glovackas, ACTRAV Desk Officer for Europe and Central Asia and Magnus Berge, Senior Specialist in Workers ‘Activities ILO – Budapest.

Oleg Budza, CNSM president, communicated about the socio-economic situation in the Republic of Moldova, the achievements of the Confederation in the year 2019, the demands submitted by the employees’ representatives in the negotiations with the social partners, the worrying tendencies in the labor market.

CNSM leadership referred to the need of changing the situation regarding the minimum wage that has not been modified since 2014. The trade unionists demand that the minimum wage in the country has to be set at a level of at least 50-60% of the average wage in the country, according to the practices from the European Union. Another problem that concern the trade unionists is related to the need of introducing some amendments to the Law no. 270 regarding the payment in the budget system, in order to remove some inequities.

Also, the trade unionists referred to the problems related to the labor migration. The trade unionists mentioned that there is a shortage of personnel in several sectors of the national economy. Moreover, the migration of the economically active population has numerous question marks related to the prospects of economic development and the impact of this phenomenon on the social insurance system.

To the attention of CNSM are also the problems related to occupational medicine, the development of the social partnership at all levels, the improvement of the situation in the field of safety and health at work and the return to an integrated system of labor inspection, combating the phenomenon of the informal economy, the fulfillment and ratification of new ILO Conventions, as well as promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sergeyus Glovackas, Desk Officer at the ILO’s Bureau for Workers’ Activities, specified that in the year 2019, when it was marked the ILO Centenary was adopted the Declaration on the “Future of Labor”. Following this important event, ILO reviewed some directions of activity and set new priorities in its activity. In this regard, it was decided to support several countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including the Republic of Moldova. Thus, ILO aims to strengthen the capacities of the social partners and to support trade union organizations.

“A high standard of living is attested in those countries where trade unions are developed. The most striking example are the Scandinavian countries. We know about the problems that exist in the Republic of Moldova: low wage level, labor migration, deficiencies in the field of safety and health at work, etc. We set out to establish a common plan of activities for this year, in which we will include the priority directions of our collaboration”, said Glovackas.

For his part, Magnus Berge, Senior Specialist in Workers ‘Activities ILO – Budapest, mentioned about the CNSM good involvement in the activities organized on the occasion of the ILO Centenary and showed his willingness to contribute to the increased cooperation between the two organizations.

The joint activity plan for this year provides assistance from the ILO, with the participation of international experts, in analyzing and elaborating recommendations in the field of labor law and other fields, organizing regional meetings in Chisinau with the participation of trade unions from other countries, organizing some training activities and exchange of experience, promoting ILO Conventions and international labor norms, involvement of trade unions in climate change processes.