Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Republic of Moldova (Ratification: 1996)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in September 2010, which includes detailed replies to the 2009 direct request. The Committee notes that the annual plans of action for employment, approved by the Government as part of the National Employment Strategy for 2007–15, have led to the adoption of numerous measures designed to promote full employment with, inter alia, the implementation of vocational training, employment market analyses and worker support services. As a result of these initiatives, 4,000 persons took training courses in 2009, and more than half of them subsequently found jobs. The National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova reports an increase in the unemployment rate from 5.7 per cent in the third quarter of 2009 to 6.2 per cent in the last quarter of 2009. According to the ILO data, the unemployment rate amounted to 7.4 per cent of the population, with men worse affected than women (8.9 per cent and 5.7 per cent, respectively). This deterioration has mainly resulted from numerous bankruptcies and mass redundancies due to the economic and financial crisis. The Government emphasizes how it is difficult in such a situation to adjust and develop employment support policies, largely as a result of the lack of funds and limited capacity at the disposal of the National Employment Agency. A number of initiatives have been planned, however, with a view to minimizing the impact of the crisis on employment, especially at the local level, with the renovation of a number of territorial agencies, and also the transmission of employment market data to regional and central authorities. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the results of its National Employment Strategy and the various measures aimed at limiting the impact of the crisis on unemployment, especially with regard to the most vulnerable categories of the population.

Youth employment. The Government indicates a general decline in the employment rate for the 15–25 years age group, with the exception of women in urban areas, and also a significant increase in the unemployment rate for all the categories concerned since 2008. It also emphasizes a high rate of inactivity among young people in rural areas, largely due to scarce job opportunities and harsh conditions of work. Following on from actions undertaken in 2008, the National Youth Strategy was launched in 2009 for a six-year period. Under this strategy, the National Employment Agency and its local offices provided support for more than 17,700 young jobseekers in the form of vocational guidance. Due to a lack of information on the benefits offered, the number of young persons inclined to register as unemployed is still very low, and the majority of them are thus unable to benefit from any proposed assistance. Other structures have therefore been established, including the Employment market information centre and the Labour club, which held 329 sessions in 2009 and enabled young persons to improve their jobseeking techniques. The Committee invites the Government to indicate in its next report the results achieved in promoting the integration of young persons in the labour market, particularly in the context of the National Youth Strategy 2009–15.

Persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that in 2009 a total of 711 persons with disabilities submitted applications to the National Employment Agency and local offices, 81 of whom were subsequently placed in jobs. A total of 219 persons with disabilities, including 98 women, made use of information and vocational guidance services. A large number of disabled persons were also recruited in the context of public works or made use of mediation services established by the Government. The Committee further notes the introduction, under the Government Activity Programme for 2005–09 entitled “Modernization of the country/welfare of the people”, of a clause relating to pilot centres for the integration of vulnerable persons in the labour market. This provision, adopted under the Moldovan–Swedish joint project entitled “Support to public employment services in Moldova”, enabled improved cooperation between the National Employment Agency and 179 persons with disabilities, of whom more than 21.8 per cent were subsequently employed. The Committee invites the Government to include information in its next report on the impact of the measures taken to ensure the integration of persons with disabilities in the open labour market.

Victims of trafficking. The Committee notes the setting up of the project for the elimination of trafficking of persons from the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine by means of labour market policies, implemented in cooperation with the ILO and funded by the European Commission. The programme has resulted in the establishment of three information centres on migration and also three employment assistance agencies, with the respective aims of informing the public about the risks connected with illegal immigration and about available employment opportunities. A cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Economy and Trade and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), concluded in 2006, enabled the provision of active assistance for jobseekers who had been victims of trafficking in 2009. By way of example, the local offices of the National Employment Agency worked with seven actual victims and seven potential victims of trafficking, over half of whom were selected for training sessions. A total of 18 beneficiaries also received reintegration allowances and all the victims who registered regularly with the National Employment Agency also received free medical insurance. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken in the context of an active employment policy to prevent abusive practices in the recruitment of labour and the exploitation of migrant workers in the Republic of Moldova.

Consultation of the social partners. The Government indicates that the legislation relating to the employment and social protection of jobseekers focuses specifically on strengthening social dialogue. For example, the Government recalls the concept for development of the system of social dialogue, approved by Government Decision No. 356 of 1999. The Moldovan–Swedish project also enabled the development of a strategy for strengthening social dialogue. In addition, a total of 146 local advisory council meetings took place in 2009, with a view to implementing the plan of action supervised by the national employment offices. The Committee invites the Government to provide other specific examples of the manner in which the social partners are effectively consulted and participate in decision-making regarding the matters covered by the Convention. The Committee also invites the Government once again to provide information on the measures taken or contemplated to involve the representatives of other sectors of the active population, such as persons working in the rural sector or the informal economy, in such consultations.

Part V of the report form. ILO technical assistance. The Committee notes the information supplied regarding other technical cooperation projects, such as the project launched in 2009 entitled “Strengthening the Moldova capacity to manage labour and return migration within the framework of the mobility partnership with the EU”. This cooperation has resulted in the establishment of information seminars on migration bringing together experts from the National Employment Agency and its local offices, the Ministry of Economy and Trade, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the manner in which ILO technical assistance has contributed towards achieving the goals of full, productive and freely chosen employment laid down by the Convention.