Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Republic of Moldova (Ratification: 2012)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Application of the Convention. The Government provides information on legislation adopted during the reporting period, including: the Law on Official Statistics No. 93 of 26 May 2017; Government Decision No. 935 on the organization and functioning of the National Bureau of Statistics, adopted on 24 September 2018; and Government Decision No. 681, on the approval of the Concept of the automated information System “Electronic register of employees” for the public sector, adopted on 10 September 2020. The Committee takes particular note of the Government’s indication that guidelines established under the auspices of the ILO in the compilation of all labour related statistics are closely followed, notably Resolution I adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) on Statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (2013) and the Resolution on the International Standard Classification of Occupations ISCO-08.

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. No changes affecting the application of this article. The Committee notes that the Government continues to provide information compiled under Article 7 via the Labour Force Survey (LFS), with the latest statistics referring to 2021. The Committee notes with interest the 2019 revision to the LFS methodology, which aligned the definition of “employment” with developments with respect to Resolution I adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) on Statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (2013). Moreover, the LFS is conducted in accordance with the new master sample of households and new rotation scheme, using the number of the “usually resident population” for the estimation of the results (previously the number of the “stable population” was used). The Government provides information on both the existing metadata and the underlying methodology. With respect to the application of Article 8, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the 2014 population census was undertaken in May 2014 and the census data was communicated to ILOSTAT for dissemination on its website. The Government notes that the 2014 Census results were disseminated to the public on March 31, 2017. It adds that the next population census is scheduled to be carried out in 2023. With respect to the implementation of Resolution I adopted by the 19th ICLS, the Government notes that, as of 2019, the definition of “employment” is applied in line with the Resolution and no longer includes persons engaged in the production of agricultural products mainly for their own consumption, regardless of the number of hours worked. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated information on the results and methodology of the upcoming 2023 population census. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated information on any further developments in relation to the implementation of (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013), as well as in relation to the Resolution concerning statistics on work relationships (Resolution I), adopted by the 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2018).

Article 9(2). Statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Government provides data on the average gross earnings by some activities, occupations and sex through the October Enterprise Survey on Earnings by Selected Occupation Disaggregated by Sex (2010-2017) as well as the average gross earnings by some activities, occupations and sex (2010-2014). The Committee notes that this data is published on the Government’s website. It nevertheless notes the Government’s indication that, as information is collected only for some occupations in 6 economic activities financed from the state budget (education, health, social protection, administration, culture and science), it was decided not to continue to compile such data. Accordingly, the National Bureau of Statistics does not currently compile data on time rate of wages by occupations. The Government indicates that the National Bureau of Statistics is in the process of setting up the necessary procedures to enable it to access the administrative data from the National House of Social Insurance and the State Tax Service. It adds that the National Bureau of Statistics intends to use the information from the Electronic Register of Employees, which it plans to implement for both the public and private sectors. As a result, the National Bureau of Statistics will be in a position to produce statistics on earnings by occupation in the future. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated information on statistical data compiled and the methodology used, as well as on any developments with respect to the production and dissemination of statistics on earnings by occupation.

Article 11. Statistics of average labour cost. The Committee notes that statistics on wage structure and labour costs continue to be derived from the annual survey on earnings and labour force costs. Survey results are disseminated through the National Bureau of Statistics website. The Government continues to communicate information on annual labour statistics, including statistics on labour costs, through the ILOSTAT annual questionnaire. The latest available data refers to 2020.The Committee requests that the Government continue to transmit updated statistics on labour costs to the ILO Department of Statistics on an annual basis.

Article 13. Statistics of household expenditure. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Household Budget Survey (HBS) methodology was revised and approved in 2019. The Government is requested to continue to provide updated statistics compiled to give effect to this Article, as well as methodological information.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries and diseases. The Government indicates that there are no changes affecting the application of thisArticle. It adds that activities to develop statistics on occupational diseases have not yet been initiated. The Committee notes that statistics under Article 14 are provided and disseminated through the ILOSTAT annual questionnaire. The latest data available in ILOSTAT refers to 2020. The Committee welcomes the information provided and requests the Government to continue to provide information on any further methodological changes made in relation to the collection, compilation and publication of statistics on occupational injuries and diseases. It invites the Government to take into account the decision taken by the International Labour Conference at its 110th Session in June 2022 to include “a safe and healthy working environment” as a fundamental principle and right at work under paragraph 2 of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes that, following the ratification of the Convention in 2012, the Decent Work Country Programme 2016–20 signed in February 2016 includes an outcome (1.3) on enhancing the capacities of the national stakeholders to enable them to better produce, compile, align and disseminate essential labour statistics to monitor new employment trends. In this context, the Government indicates that a new law on official statistics was developed and was to be presented to Parliament by the end of 2016. In addition, a National Statistical System Development Strategy 2016–20 and an Action Plan for its implementation were developed and presented for adoption in 2016. The Government adds that the Republic of Moldova is among the countries selected to participate in the ILO Labour Force Survey (LFS) study programme to test and develop new survey methodology, particularly for the measurement of employment, own-use production work and new measures of labour underutilization. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information on the measures taken or envisaged to give effect to the provisions of the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to provide, in case it has been adopted, a copy of the Law on official statistics.

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Government indicates in its report that there has been a change in the sample size of the quarterly LFS which was set at 7,200 dwellings per quarter in 2015. The Committee notes that the most recent Population and Housing Census was carried out in May 2014 and the corresponding population census data has been supplied to the ILO Department of Statistics. The Committee requests that the Government provide information on any further methodological changes to the Labour Force Survey and on plans for conducting the next round of the population census in 2021. It also requests the Government to provide information on any developments in relation to the implementation of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Article 9(2). Statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Government indicates that the 34 questionnaires (representing 34 economic activities) of the October Enterprise Survey on earnings by selected occupation disaggregated by sex were revised following the implementation of the new version of the National Classification of Occupations in 2015. It was agreed to produce statistics for a limited number of occupations. Thus, for 2016, six types of questionnaires were approved for economic activities requested by the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family: education, health, social protection, administration, culture and science. The Government indicates that statistics on this limited number of occupations do not satisfy the needs of users. The National Bureau of Statistics also plans to use the administrative data source of the National House of Social Insurance to produce statistics on earnings by occupation, sex and age group and to collect statistical data from respondents only where no other administrative or statistical data sources are available to produce qualitative statistical data, in order to reduce the statistical reporting burden. These activities were launched within the framework of the EU Project, Improved Regional Statistics in the Republic of Moldova. The Committee requests that the Government communicate the relevant statistics on time rates and normal hours of work by occupation, including by providing an internet link to the statistics and methodological information related to the “October Enterprise Survey on Earnings by Selected Occupation Disaggregated by Sex”.

Article 11. Statistics of average labour cost. The Committee notes that statistics on total labour cost and non-wage expenditures incurred by employers for the utilization of labour during the reference year is collected through an annual survey. It further notes that statistics on average gross monthly labour costs from the Earnings and Labour Force Cost Survey, by economic activity, have been submitted to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination on ILOSTAT. The latest data refer to 2015. The Committee welcomes the information provided on the application of Article 11 and requests that the Government continue to transmit updated statistics on labour costs to the ILO Department of Statistics on an annual basis.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries and diseases. The Government indicates that the annual enterprises survey, the Security and Health at Work Survey, was revised and divided into two separate surveys: an annual survey on accidents at work and a biannual survey on working conditions. The Government adds that, in revising and designing the new surveys, the National Bureau of Statistics consulted the main users, public authorities and the social partners, and took their views into account. The Committee notes the information provided and requests the Government to continue to provide information on any further methodological changes made in relation to collection, compilation and publication of statistics on occupational injuries and diseases.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention received in October 2014. It also notes that, in accordance with Article 16(2) of the Convention, the Government has accepted the obligations of Part II of the Convention with respect to Articles 7–13 and Article 14(1).

Article 8. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Government indicates in its report that the first independent population census was conducted in October 2004. The Committee notes that Moldova’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) compiles current statistics on the economically active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment of the whole country from a quarterly Labour Force Survey (LFS), in line with ILO Recommendations. The Committee requests that the Government provide information on any plans for conducting the next round of the population census. It also invites the Government to include information on any developments towards the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Articles 9(2). Statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Government indicates that statistics on time rates of wages and normal hours of work are collected by NBS through the October Enterprise Survey on Earnings by Selected Occupations Disaggregated by Sex, which was designed based on the “ILO October Inquiry”. The Committee notes that the survey is comprised of 34 questionnaires, each covering a different economic activity, and is representative at the national level, with data for certain activities disaggregated by form of ownership (public/private). Moreover, the Government indicates that a new National Classification of Occupations (CORM), based on ISCO-08, was approved by the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family (MLSPF) in March 2014. Accordingly, the current survey will be redesigned to allow for production of indicators on rates of earning and normal hours of work by occupations as required by the MLSPF. The Committee requests that the Government provide relevant statistics and methodological information for the redesigned survey.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries and occupational diseases. The Committee notes that statistics on occupational injuries are collected through an annual survey of enterprises, namely the Security and Health at Work Survey (SHWS). Information regarding the survey methodology is also contained in the report. The Committee further notes that statistics on occupational injuries derived from the SHWS are regularly submitted to the ILO Department of Statistics via the corresponding chapter of its annual questionnaire on labour statistics. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any developments concerning the production and dissemination of statistics on occupational diseases (Article 14(2)).