Enhancing employment rights in the Republic of Moldova

About the project

Social rights are core European values enshrined in a number of formal commitments undertaken by Council of Europe Member States, including the Republic of Moldova. Respect for and the promotion of social rights are essential in attaining sustainable democracy.

The Council of Europe standards in the field of social and economic rights are enshrined in the European Social Charter. The implementation of the European Social Charter by States Parties is supervised by the European Committee of Social Rights through the collective complaints procedure and the reporting system. The Republic of Moldova ratified the revised European Social Charter on 8 November 2001 and has accepted 63 of the 98 paragraphs. It has not accepted the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints.

During January 2023 – December 2025 the Council of Europe will implement the project “Enhancing employment rights in the Republic of Moldova” (hereinafter – the project), which is the first full-fledged project implemented by the Council of Europe in the field of social labour rights in the Republic of Moldova. The project is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024 and is co-funded by the Austrian Development Agency and the Council of Europe.

The project pursues the overall objective of enhancing the observance of social labour rights in line with international standards and facilitating the access of persons from vulnerable groups to vocational education and training and subsequent employment.

The project will pay due regard to the country’s priorities set in different strategic papers such as the Development Strategy “Education 2030”, the European Union - Republic of Moldova Association Agreement, the European Commission Opinion on the Republic of Moldova’s application for membership of the European Union as well as the Framework Strategy of the Austrian Development Cooperation with the European Union Eastern Partner Countries for the Republic of Moldova.

Project duration: 36 months (January 2023 – December 2025).

Project leaflet, publications, reports and studies

Project leaflet

European Committee of Social Rights Conclusions 2022 with regard to the Republic of Moldova

Report on the needs assessment in the field of social rights with a specific focus on labour rights and employment rights of persons from vulnerable groups in the Republic of Moldova

Fourth report on the non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter

How can National Human Rights Institutions and National Equality Bodies engage with the European Committee of Social Rights under the monitoring system of the European Social Charter

Leaflet on key achievements 2023 - 2024

Digest of the case law of the European Committee of Social Rights

Strengthen the capacities of government officials to promote and protect social and employment rights, particularly employment rights of persons from vulnerable groups, in line with European standards

Strengthen the capacities of VET institutions to become more inclusive and gender sensitive, and better able to identify and attract girls and boys/women and men from vulnerable groups and NEET youth

Facilitate the access to the labour market for vulnerable groups in the VET system

News

Council of Europe supports the State Labour Inspectorate of the Republic of Moldova in improving its visual identity

The Guide on European Convention on Human Rights – Social Rights: now available in Romanian

Importance of quality reporting to the European Committee of Social Rights for Advancing Social Rights in the Republic of Moldova

Republic of Moldova in relation to the European Social Charter: acceptance of additional provisions of the European Social Charter in the field of social and economic rights

Republic of Moldova accepted eight additional provisions of the revised European Social Charter

The Digest of the case law of the European Committee of Social Rights is translated into Romanian

Judges, prosecutors and lawyers in the Republic of Moldova have strengthened their knowledge of labour law in the light of the European Social Charter and other international standards

Launch of the national network for the NEET Youth integration in the vocational education and training system

Interview: Enhancing social and employment rights of persons from vulnerable groups in the Republic of Moldova

DEADLINE EXTENDED: CALL for TENDER - Provider for the provision of services in the field of information technologies for the development of the interactive, informative, and visually perceptive map of the VET institutions in the Republic of Moldova

Employment of people from vulnerable groups discussed at round table

Capacity building on communication for teachers and students from VET institutions

Civil society organisations, national human rights institutions, and equality bodies were acquainted with the monitoring system of the European Social Charter

Round table on the development of the National Network for NEET youth integration in vocational education and training system

Needs assessment in the field of social rights with a specific focus on labour rights and employment rights of persons from vulnerable groups in the Republic of Moldova

The Ombudsperson Institution and the Equality Council from the Republic of Moldova vital partners for the European Committee of Social Rights work within the European Social Charter

Training on application of contravention fines for undeclared and under-declared work by labour inspectors

State Labour Inspectors gain insights on integrity aspects

Empowering the labour inspectors with effective communication skills

Council of Europe HELP Course on “Labour rights as Human rights” is now available for legal professionals

Who we work with?

The project is implemented in cooperation with the Parliamentary Commission on social protection, health and family, Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, State Labour Inspectorate, National Agency for Employment (and territorial branches), National Trade Union, People’s Advocate Office (Ombudsperson Institution), Council for eliminating and preventing discrimination and ensuring equality, selected VET institutions.

Who benefits from the project?

The project targets Staff from the State Labour Inspectorate; legal professionals (judges, lawyers); representatives from National Human Rights Institution and civil society organisations specialised in equal opportunities; trade union representatives, management, teachers and students of VET institutions; persons from vulnerable/disadvantaged groups, in particular persons with disabilities, Roma, Roma women; NEET youth. The final beneficiaries are the general population, benefitting from enhanced protection of employment rights.