Parliament approves, in the first reading, with 67 votes, a draft law that aligns national legislation with a European directive on minimum wages. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection drafts the bill in consultation with employers’ associations and trade unions. The law provides that authorities review the minimum wage level at least once a year and take into account indicative benchmarks, including 50% of the projected average monthly salary in the economy.
Authorities say the new provisions ensure fairer minimum wages that better match the cost of living, productivity, and wage trends. They aim to reduce in-work poverty and bring Moldova closer to European social standards.
At the same time, the document encourages the expansion of collective bargaining at national, sectoral, territorial, and company levels. This allows wages to exceed the state-set minimum threshold and better reflect economic realities.
Parliament will examine the bill in the second reading. After adoption, the law will enter into force upon publication in the Official Gazette.