Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Republic of Moldova

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) (Ratification: 2000)
Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) (Ratification: 2010)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on occupational safety and health (OSH), the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 155 (OSH) and 187 (promotional framework for OSH) together.

The Committee notes the observations of the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova (CNSM), received in 2024 and transmitted with the Government’s report.

I. Action taken at the national level

Application of Conventions Nos 155 and 187 in practice. The Committee takes note of the statistics contained in the Government’s report as well as in the labour inspection reports for 2021–2023. This includes detailed information on the accidents reported, their nature and cause and the economic activity. The Committee notes that the total number of accidents increased from 570 in 2022 to 607 in 2023. The Committee also notes the information regarding the number of labour inspections covering OSH and the number of relevant contraventions reported. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the reasons for the increase in the number of accidents reported, and to continue to provide statistical information on the number and nature of the contraventions reported and the number, nature and causes of occupational accidents and diseases.

Article 2(3) of Convention No. 187. Consultation with the social partners to ratify relevant OSH Conventions. The Committee notes that the Government ratified the Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161) in 2021. The Committee takes note of this information which addresses its previous request.

National policy

Articles 4 and 7 of Convention No. 155, and Article 3(1) of Convention No. 187. Formulation, implementation and periodic review of a national policy on OSH in consultation with social partners. The Government indicates that following consultation with the social partners, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection adopted the Programme for the Improvement of Occupational Safety and Health in the Areas with High Risk of Injury and Disease (Construction, Agriculture, Manufacturing Industry, Transport and Storage) for the years 2024–2028 (OSH Programme 2024–2028) through Ministerial Order No. 72/2 of 11 April 2024. The Government indicates that the OSH Programme 2024–2028 aims to reduce the number of people injured at work and the number of people who have contracted occupational diseases. The Committee notes that the main actions for its implementation include: the review of the national OSH regulatory framework with the aim of alignment with ILO and EU standards: the elaboration of training and information tools; the development of risk prevention tools; and strengthening social dialogue in the field of OSH. The Government indicates that the implementation of the state policy in the field of OSH is ensured through coordinated actions of central and local public authorities and employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee also notes that according to OSH Programme 2024–2028 there will be three stages of evaluation, with a final evaluation report in December 2028. The Government further indicates that, based on the results of the Programme new objectives and policy opportunities in the field of OSH will be identified jointly with the social partners. In its observations the CNSM points to the fact that Programme only refers to certain fields of activity. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of the OSH Programme 2024–2028, and to provide information on the evaluation of its results, carried out in consultation with the social partners. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate how this evaluation contributes to the formulation of the national OSH Policy for the subsequent period. It requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure the coherence of the national OSH Policy, and how it takes into account the needs of all sectors of the economy.

National system

Article 9 of Convention No. 155 and Article 4(1) and (2)(c) of Convention No. 187.Progressive development and periodic review of the national OSH system in consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers. System of inspection. The Committee notes that as of November 2022, 84 employees were working in the State Labour Inspectorate. With reference to its comments under theLabour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), the Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken or envisaged to progressively develop the national OSH system with regard to labour inspection, in consultation with the social partners for the continuous improvement of OSH in the country.

Article 4(3)(d) of Convention No. 187. Occupational health services. In its previous comments the Committee took note of the Regulation on the organization of activities for the protection of workers at work and occupational risk prevention, approved by Government Decision No. 95/2009, which regulates the organization and development of internal and external protection and prevention services. The Government indicates that the OSH Programme 2024–2028 envisages the development of procedures for the accreditation of external prevention and protection services, planned for 2028, in consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers. With reference to its comments under the Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161), the Committee requests the Government to provide information regarding the development of procedures for the accreditation of external prevention and protection services.

Article 4(3)(e) of Convention No. 187. Research on OSH. The Government indicates that an OSH Profile of the Republic of Moldova was developed in 2021 as part of the ILO project ‘Protecting workers and ensuring decent and safe working conditions in times of COVID-19 crisis and recovery in Moldova’. It indicates that the study was conducted on the basis of an analysis of international, European and national and sectoral OSH legislation, relevant statistical data provided by the National Bureau of Statistics, the State Labour Inspectorate, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection, and discussions the national OSH authorities and representatives of social partners. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to carry out research on OSH, including on the type of research carried out.

Article 11(c) of Convention No. 155 and Article 4(3)(f) of Convention No.187. Procedures for the notification of accidents and diseases and the collection and analysis of data. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes that in accordance with Government Decision No.1282/2016, the National Public Health Agency collects information on cases of occupational diseases and prepares and publishes annually the National Report titled ‘State Public Health Surveillance in the Republic of Moldova’, which contains information on health protection and prevention of diseases associated with environmental risk factors, including occupational risk. The Agency also reports annually the number of cases of occupational disease to the National Bureau of Statistics. The Government indicates that a constant decrease of occupational diseases is observed and that the low number of cases of occupational diseases reported (none in 2021 and 2022, and 1 in 2023) indicates an underdiagnosis of these diseases. The Committee refers to its comments under Convention No. 81 where it noted that the labour inspection reports for 2021, 2022 and 2023 do not include statistics of occupational diseases. Noting the Government’s indications, the Committee requests the Government to clarify the causes of the low number of reported occupational diseases, indicating the factors contributing to the presumed underdiagnosis. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard to reinforce the application of the procedures for the notification of occupational diseases. In addition, the Committee once again requests the Government to indicate how it ensures the coordination and exchange of information between the National Agency for Public Health and the State Labour Inspectorate.

Article 4(3)(h) of Convention No. 187. Support mechanisms for progressive improvement of OSH conditions in microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the informal economy. The Committee notes the Government’s reference, in response to the Committee’s previous request, to section 11 of the Law on Occupational Safety and Health which provides that an employer must designate one or more workers to deal with the activities of protection and prevention of occupational risks in the unit. It also indicates that if the resources of the SMEs are not sufficient for the organization of protection activities due to the lack of specialized personnel, the employer is obliged to resort to external protection and prevention services accredited in the manner provided by the law (section 114). The Committee once again requests the Government to indicate what support mechanisms for the progressive improvement of OSH conditions in microenterprises, SMEs and the informal economy have been set up and implemented.

National programme

Article 5 of Convention No. 187. Formulation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and periodic review of a national programme on OSH, in consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee notes that the OSH Programme 2024–2028 is supported by an Action Plan for its implementation, included in Ministerial Order No. 72/2. The Government indicates that the Action Plan aims, inter alia, at increasing the level of compliance with and enforcement of the OSH regulatory framework; increasing the number of employers and employees with OSH knowledge in high-risk sectors; and promoting OSH culture. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any evaluation carried out of the Action Plan in consultation with the social partners, and on how this evaluation contributes to the formulation of the Action Plan for the subsequent period. It also requests further information on how the Government ensures that the Action Plan is widely publicized and, to the extent possible, endorsed and launched by the highest national authorities.

II. Action at the level of the enterprise

Article 20 of Convention No. 155 and Article 4(2)(d) of Convention No. 187. Arrangements to promote cooperation between management, workers and their representatives in microenterprises and SMEs. The Committee notes that under section 9 of Decision No. 95/2009 approving the Regulation on the organization and functioning of the Occupational Safety and Health Committee, an occupational health and safety committee shall be established in all enterprises with more than 5 workers. The Committee takes note of this information which addresses its previous request.

In addition, the Committee recalls the pending comments regarding the technical OSH Conventions ratified: the Guarding of Machinery Convention, 1963 (No. 119), and the Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184), adopted by the Committee in 2021, and the Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161) adopted in 2024. The Government will be requested to reply to those comments in accordance with the reporting cycle.