Trade unionists beat the alarm: the impact of migration on children left without parental care is becoming more assertive

Women from the Trade Union Federation of Moldova “SINDLEX” point out that more and more children are left without parental care, in the care of third parties as a result of increased migration in our country. This and other topics of social relevance were discussed within the Women Conference of the Federation “SINDLEX”, held on 15 March.

Participants in the meeting say that children left in incomplete families or in the care of third parties are exposed to social risks – do not receive a proper education, do not receive timely medical services and psychological assistance and are easily influenced.

“I consider it appropriate that we, trade unionists, to expose on the impact of migration on children left behind without parents. A girl that does not know what a mother’s love, can she become, in turn, a caring mother?” said Angela Otean, vice-president of “SINDLEX”, president of the Women Organization of the Federation.

Maia Bănărescu, ombudsman for children’s rights, said that the positive effects for these children, such as financial needs, are of short-term, while psycho-emotional behaviour is affected in the long term.” Here we have to work. Though the state tries and takes measures to enhance the protection of children’s rights, we have many shortcomings, to be discussed and put on the table of the government,” she said.

Women have addressed the issue of migration.

“The phenomenon has been and still is one characteristic for developing states, only that it must be a regulated process. The state has taken a number of commitments by signing 12 social security agreements, which are quite effective as tools to secure the rights of people leaving the country,” said Valentina Buliga, Member of the Moldovan Parliament.

In another context, trade unionists emphasized the need to reform the salary system in the public sector, its unification and double growth of wages to stem professional staff turnover and migration of intellectuals from the country.

Another topic discussed at the conference concerns the establishment of paternity leave and allowance for fathers of new-borns.

“When adopting the Regulation on the way of establishing paternity leave was not taken into account that there is a category of civil servants with special status – employees of law enforcement bodies, which until January 1, 2017 were exempt from pays in the social fund, benefiting only from unpaid paternity leave of 14 days. Is not correct. This injustice must be removed,” said Otean.

However, participants talked about the opportunity to develop policies to combat idleness of citizens who avoid work, creating new jobs, well paid as motivation to increase employment.

As always, the pension system reform was not left without attention, which, according to trade unionists, was hasty, creating social inequity.

The conference was closed with an appeal of women to the Minister of Labour, Social Protection and Family, Prime Minister and Parliament, which calls to: remove discriminatory provisions aimed at retirement of women, including the right to apply to early retirement; elimination of discrimination of fathers of new-borns – civil servants with special status to establish paternity allowance; policy to combat idleness and wage reform in the public sector.

Department of mass media and international relations