Modovan government to strengthen social dialogue to eradicate informal economy

Chisinau, 4 June /MOLDPRES/ - The government will strengthen the social dialogue to eradicate the informal economy. This and other issues were discussed at a today meeting of the National Commission for Consultation and Collective Bargaining, chaired by Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici, the government’s communication and media relations department has reported.

In the beginning of the meeting, the prime minister heard reports by the Labour, Social Protection and Family Ministry, National Confederation of Trade Unions and National Confederation of Employers on the fulfillment of the Action Plan to minimize the practice of wages in the form of cash delivered in envelopes and the unregistered labour in 2014.

According to rapporteurs, the plan's actions were focused on strengthening the mechanism of sanctioning breaches of the legislation on labour remuneration and enhancing control in order to detect evasion and counteract the phenomenon of illegal labour. In this regard, the government annually increases the minimum guaranteed wage in the real sector, according to the total increasing sum of the consumer price index and labour productivity. In 2014, this wage was set at 1,650 lei per month, by 17.8 per cent more against 2013. As of 1 May 2015, the minimum quantum is 1,900 lei, increasing by 15.1 per cent against 2014. The authorities also take steps to encourage payment of salaries through bank cards and use cashless payment instruments.

The social partners have noted that, on the concerned period, the share of the informal economy decreased. At the same time, they spoke out for the extension of the measures to reduce the tax burden, as well as for the implementation of actions to increase the legal economic activity of economic agents, which would make the legalization of relations between employers and employees more convenient.

In this context, the prime minister asked to consolidate efforts to eliminate informal economy and wages "in envelopes" and expressed support for developing effective measures in this regard.

Another topic discussed at the meeting referred to the opportunity of amending the law on state control over the entrepreneurs’ activity. The authors of the initiative proposed exempting the State Labour Inspectorate from the requirement to inform economic agents about planned controls five days ahead (as required by law), to detect the glaring infringements of the labour law. It was noted that Moldova has accepted prerequisites of international conventions in this regard. At the same time, some members of the Commission declared for boosting preventive measures and warning against violations of laws related to labour security, without interfering with the legislation. The National Commission for Consultation and Collective Bargaining (CNCNC) members agreed that the Labour, Family and Social Protection Ministry would convene, on the following days, topic-related meeting with the stakeholders to reach a consensus on the subject.

Also, the participants in the CNCNC meeting approved a draft on the amendment of the Collective Agreement (at the national level) on "working time and rest time." The collective agreement was concluded by the social partners on 9 July 2004. Today, seven amendments were presented, in order to establish the optimal conditions of work and ensuring the efficient use of working time and rest of employees.

CNCNC is made up of 18 members - representatives of the government, Trade Unions and Employers. Under the law, the Commission has an advisory role, and the decisions taken by it have a recommendatory character.

(Editor M. Jantovan)