Moldovan executive approves additional measures to increase employment

Chisinau, 04 July /MOLDPRES/ – The Cabinet of Ministers approved the National Action Plan for 2017 for the implementation of the National Employment Strategy 2017-2021 at its meeting today. The document provides for a series of measures to increase the level of employment, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

The actions are focused on achieving the four objectives of the National Employment Strategy: creating formal, non-discriminatory and productive employment opportunities, developing human capital for increased employment opportunities, better labour market governance, capitalizing on the potential of migration for sustainable development.

Especially, the development of the small and medium-sized enterprises sector is being pursued, the extension of the industrial park network and the free economic zones, so as to provide more jobs, especially in rural areas. In terms of strengthening the link between the labour market and the vocational training system in Moldova, active "school-enterprise" partnerships will be promoted, career guidance services and voluntary activities will be developed.

Also, the capacities of the relevant authorities, including research and forecasting on the labour market, will be strengthened as well as information campaigns on the effects of undeclared work.

Regarding to labour migration, the institutional and legislative framework necessary for the management of this phenomenon will be strengthened and the opportunities for legal employment of foreign workers will be diversified.

During 2016, of the total of 50,000 unemployed registered with the National Employment Agency, 17,600 were placed in the labour force, while the number of vacancies registered at the employment agencies constituted 44,6 thousand. The unemployment rate in 2016 at the national level was 4.2 per cent, with no significant changes compared to 2015.

The financial means required to implement the Action Plan amount to 1.2 billion lei, which will be covered from the national public budget and external resources.