Besides taking post-factum action, social care system must prevent social crisis situations, Moldovan labour, social protection, family minister says

Interview given to MOLDPRES News Agency by Labor, Social Protection and Family Minister Stela Grigoras

[MOLDPRES]: Mrs. Minister, it will soon be 100 days since you are part of the new governmental team. What are the strategic priorities that guide you?

[Grigoras]: We, those who make the team of the Labor, Social Protection and Family Ministry, promote a sincere and permanent dialogue, based on mutual collaboration and trust, with both central and local institutions, as well as with the civil society, trade unions and employers’ associations. It is the only way for us to achieve the main goal of our governmental team, be close to people and restore their confidence in a better life, here at home, in Moldova, where their families are. First of all, we aim to develop the employment strategy, which will provide for new jobs, fighting undeclared work and alleviate discrimination on the labor market. It is very important that we provide people with jobs and adequate remuneration. We have already started to create ten offices within the territorial employment agencies, to inform people and reintegrate Moldovan citizens who returned home.

There is a lot to do in the legislative field as well. For example, we should amend and supplement the Labor Code, in order to align it with the provisions of the association agreement. We will also insist on amending and supplement the law on social aid, in order to enhance the accountability of the beneficiaries. The ministry also aims to change the way the country minimum wage is being established and adjust it to the average wage. Of course, we will also take into account our institutional duty to pay social allowances and ensure the collection of social security contributions. The Labor, Social Protection and Family Ministry will work out a national pattern of good practices to ensure children’s welfare. Among the ministry’s list of priorities, deinstitutionalization is principled, especially when it refers to mentally disabled people. We want good results and we will surely get them, as we focus on several extremely important aspects in our activity. Therefore, we direct our budget efforts towards the most vulnerable categories of people, reduce the dependency degree of employable citizens, create equal opportunities for disabled people, grant social benefits and services to those who are entitled to it and also reduce fraud possibilities in the social assistance system. The ministry’s priorities may also be found in the text of Moldova-EU Association Agreement and also in the government’s action program for 2016-2018.   

[MOLDPRES]: What are the next steps you will take to reform the national social protection system?

[Grigoras]: I am firmly convinced that the communication process within the national social protection system should be reorganized and enhanced. While relations between the central authority and territorial social care bodies should be based upon mutual trust and respect. We will probably have to build a collaboration mechanism at the local level, through territorial multi-disciplinary teams, between the social, medical, education and public order fields, in order improve the quality of social assistance services offered to citizens and successfully implement social policies. Besides taking post-factum actions, as we usually do, the social care system should be able to prevent crisis situations.

[MOLDPRES]: The placement of children in state care residential facilities, which are a sad remaining of the soviet system, continues to be a major problem in Moldova. How many children are currently placed in such institutions?

[Grigoras]: State care residential facilities currently host approximately 3,000 children. It is a number that should concern us. More European projects have been implemented in Moldova over the past years, aimed to reduce the number of children placed in state care residential institutions.

[MOLDPRES]: You have recently said that no children under the age of three should be placed in state care institutions in Moldova. Is this possible at the current stage?

[Grigoras]: I will repeat it with the same strength and conviction- no children under the age of three should be placed in state care institutions in Moldova. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Labor, Social Protection and Family Ministry aim to reduce the number of children under the age of three and disabled children, placed in residential care facilities in Moldova. In this context, we signed a memorandum with our partner, Hope and Homes for Children (HHC), from Great Britain. To this effect, UNICEF in cooperation with CCF (Child, Community, Family organization)/HCC Moldova have started a project accounting for 425.800 euros, aimed to back vulnerable families with children. Two social nurseries for deinstitutionalized children will be created in the next two years and 25 families of professional parental assistants specialized on taking care of children under the age of three and disabled children, will be backed. Also, 45 children from the Children Temporary Placement and Rehabilitation Center, from Balti municipality, will be reintegrated. Another social project, accounting for 680 thousand euros, allotted by the EU, will also be implemented in Moldova in the next two years. An EU-funded project meant to facilitate the access of children with special needs during their first years of life to community support and education services, will be implemented by “Partnerships for every child” civil association, in collaboration with the Mellow Parenting and HeathProm Consortium, from Great Britain, with the support of the Moldovan Labor, Social Protection and Family Ministry, as well as in cooperation with the local public administrations from five beneficiary districts. The project will be implemented in Cahul, Calarasi, Falesti, Nisporeni and Ungheni, during 2016-2018. The general purpose of the project is to ensure the access of children with special needs under the age of 0-7, and their families, to the support programs it will create.

[MOLDPRES]..: To what extent does the pension’s 10.1-per cent indexation starting from 1 April provide elderly people with a decent living?

[Grigoras].: Naturally, for the time being, one cannot feel a sufficient growth, which would cover the essentials of the life of tens of thousands of pensioners. Personally, I know very well how the people live and how they try to get by, in particular, elderly people. Everybody wants more, yet, to do this, we must start comprehensive reforms, nationwide, with patience, with sacrifices and much work. The decision on indexation of pensions was taken at a cabinet meeting from 12 March, this year. Under the Law No 156-XIV from 14 October 1998 on the pensions of state social insurances, the coefficient of indexation is the average between the annual increase of the consumer prices index and the yearly rise in the  average salary on the economy for the year before. Only the share of the pensions paid from the state social insurances budget is subject to indexation. Calculations show that the average size of the age limit pension was increased by 120.37 lei for 518,837 beneficiaries, the invalidity pensions will rise by 94.28 lei for 133,713 beneficiaries and the survivor pensions will grow by 60.92 lei for 15,229 beneficiaries.

[MOLDPRES].: As years pass, however, the problem will become more and more serious, given that we already witness a process of ageing of the society.  

[Grigoras].: This is right. The latest surveys in the sector show significant differences of the ageing index. It happens so that young people leave and the elder remain. In several years, we will face a major demographic problem. Therefore, our duty is to look for solutions in due time. The elderly people are much more disadvantaged against the men and more intensely confront with the material, financial and physical vulnerability. The ministry’s priority is to improve the social situation for all the residents, including the elderly. The old persons’ integration and participation in the social, economic and cultural life, consolidation of solidarity between generations is the condition of balance between the society, economy and the demographic changes.     

[MOLDPRES].: How do you encourage those who want to bring up more children?  

[Grigoras].: May they dare and be imbued with the conviction that, nevertheless, more children mean for happiness. The system of social protection of newborns establishes providing of different social benefits. For instance, the providing of allowances for families with children includes the single birth allowance (3,100 lei at the birth of the first child and 3,400 lei at the birth of each next child) and the monthly allowance for bringing up the child till the age of 3 years, etc. Presently the Labour, Social Protection and Family Ministry (MMPSF) has worked out a draft law on social benefits for children, which will provide a minimum financial support on behalf of the state at the birth of the child, will provide support for taking care of twins or more children born in a single pregnancy. Also, the draft provides for growing the one-off child-birth allowance and increasing the period of providing the monthly allowance for maintaining the child, in case of uninsured people, till the age of two. This action fits into the state’s demographic policy, with the one of the principal goals being the increase of the number of children in families.      

[MOLDPRES].: What does the memorandum on cooperation between MMPSF and the Metropolitan See of Chisinau and All Moldova provide for?

[Grigoras].: Let us not forget that the social assistance work was based on the principle of Christian love, and was expressed in the most beautiful words about charity. By the signing of this memorandum, the idea was as follows: the sides commit to contribute to strengthening the institution of family, values of motherhood, parenthood and backing the observance of human rights. Also, we want together to promote policies on protection of families at risk, families in need, orphan children, solitary old people and persons with disabilities. The Church is sure that it can contribute more to the person’s humanization. Proceeding from the idea that the family is the natural and optimum environment for bringing up the child and his/her wellbeing, in my capacity of state’s representative, I express confidence that there is a great potential of collaboration between the Church and the state, to back and consolidate the foundations of the family institution, enhance the role of the family in the society, and the moral and Christian traditions.         

[MOLDPRES].: One month ago, you spoke from the United Nations rostrum about the government’s commitments in terms of gender quality till 2030. What are they?

[Grigoras]A.: Women’s involvement in the political, economic and social life is not only a right, but also a prerequisite for the welfare of the society on the whole. We must recognize that that the Moldovan government, on the last period, has been making constant efforts leading to fair approaches for gender equality in most sectors. We notice a wider presence of women in diverse previously limited activities. By adopting the sustainable development agenda 2030, Moldova reiterated the commitment concerning the gender equality nationally and internationally.      

[MOLDPRES].: Thank you for the interview.

(Editor A. Raileanu)