Retirement age, contribution period of women to be equal to ones of men

Chisinau, 17 December /MOLDPRES/- Women and men from Moldova will retire at the age of 63 years and the contribution period will be also unified -34 years, according to legislative amendments on pension reform, adopted by the parliament in the second reading on 16 December.

It was initially scheduled to gradually increase the retirement age for women from 57 to 62 years and for men from 62 to 65 years, by 6 months annually, starting from 1 January 2017 till 2026.

At the same time, after setting new amendments submitted by the MPs in the first reading, the retirement age and contribution period for women and men will be gradually equalized. Thus, the retirement age for men will increase to 63 years by 1 January 2019 (4 months annually). It is set the same age for women, which will be reached on 1 July 2028 (6 months annually).

After the amendments, the contribution period for women and men will be unified – 34 years. It will be set for men starting from 1 July 2018, and for women – 1 July 2024.

The parliament also operated amendments on pension review. Thus, the pensioners, who work or have worked after retirement, may require the pension review just every two years.

The Labour Ministry argues this amendment that the demographic aging rate increased from 13.6 per cent in 2005 to 16.2 per cent. At the same time, Moldovans share over the age of 60 will represent 25 per cent of the people till 2035.

Also, the parliament voted in the first reading amendments to the document on employment of civil servant who has reached retirement age. Under the new provisions, he will be able to work, after retirement, for a determined period, not exceeding five years and will get both the pension and wage.

According to the National Statistics Bureau, in 2015 the average life expectancy in Moldova amounted to 71.5 years, including for men – 67.5 and women – 75.5 years.

(Reporter A. Plitoc, editor A. Răileanu)