Inclusive and Productive Employment in Moldova

Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe and continues to face multiple overlapping crises, including the war in Ukraine and energy shocks. Despite these ongoing socio-economic challenges, Moldova has made significant progress towards EU accession. This process entails extensive reforms and provides an opportunity for the country to align itself more closely with international labour standards and the relevant EU acquis on social policy and employment. Switzerland continues to collaborate with the ILO in Moldova to address the challenges faced in the labour and social protection sectors.

The project aims to promote inclusive and productive employment, effective protection at work and improved social dialogue, while supporting reforms to labour policies and laws. It will contribute significantly to the Decent Work Country Programme 2025-2027, which was developed and implemented with Moldova's government and employers’ and workers’ organizations. The project provides a key support for labour market reforms in a region directly affected by the war in Ukraine. Given the close link between productivity and decent work, the project encourages social dialogue and collaboration between the government, social partners, and labour institutions to ensure that productivity gains are widely shared and contribute to improved working conditions. By addressing the structural barriers and root causes of low productivity, informality and poor-quality employment, this approach aims to deliver long-lasting labour market improvements and inclusive economic growth.

Improved policy and legislative frameworks for the promotion of inclusive and productive employment, formalization, and sustainable enterprises based on social dialogue and International Labour Standards.

Improved capacities of social partners and labour institutions to deliver on their mandates and to design, adopt and implement policies and legal reforms for the creation of productive employment opportunities, formalisation and SME development in a tripartite manner.

Productive employment enhanced at local level through effective decentralized implementation of the employment policy as well as through improved working conditions and management practices in SMEs.

Expected results:  

ILO constituents and other national stakeholders have an improved understanding of International Labour Standards, EU acquis and legislative gaps as well as better access to relevant information to be able to make informed decisions concerning required legal reforms (social dialogue, labour law enforcement, etc.).

Legislative reforms in key enabling areas, such as social dialogue and labour law enforcement, developed and agreed by ILO constituents.

Local economic development fostered and capacities of local public authorities and social partners to design innovative employment initiatives enhanced.

Operational efficiency, improved working conditions, and increased productivity achieved in selected SMEs through the implementation and monitoring of enterprise improvement plans.

Results from previous phases:  

Phase I contributed directly to the implementation of the Decent Work Country Programme Moldowa (2021-2024), supporting several key outcomes crucial for the development of a sustainable and inclusive labour market. It also strengthened social dialogue platforms by developing relevant and effective social dialogue mechanisms at national, territorial, and enterprise levels. Futher, it assisted employers’ and workers’ organizations with expertise in policy development and quality service provision for their members. The project also incorporated also several gender-sensitive elements, such as creating jobs for marginalised populations, including women, refugees, and individuals with disabilities.