Moldova's State Labour Inspectorate receives 30 video cameras donated by EU, International Organization for Migration

Chisinau, 30 September /MOLDPRES/ - A set of 30 body video cameras and related equipment today were donated to the State Labour Inspectorate (ISM), in order to enhance the efficiency and transparency of the institution in the activity process. The action was carried out within the project, EU’s support for a more inclusive labour market in Moldova. The project is financed by the European Union and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).       

Since the beginning of this year, 1665 people working without labour contract have been identified. Subsequently, 1230 of them were helped to regain the rights and be legalized at the working place.

At a news conference, Labour and Social Protection Minister Alexei Buzu said that the reform of the State Labour Inspectorate yielded results above expectations.  

The goal of the donation is to consolidate the ISM’s operational capacities through the providing of an additional instrument for the improvement of the carrying out of unforeseen inspections. This supports the legal instruction, which entered into force on 1 March 2023, which gives ISM specialists right to make unannounced controls of economic agents’ work. Also, the use of cameras will improve the analysis of risks and will promote internal policies of integrity and zero tolerance to abuse and corruption.     

„The degree of confidence of Moldova’s citizens in the state’s institutions is regretfully quite low. In particular, the distrust in the control bodies is widely spread. People connect this distrust with the high level of corruption. The use of body cameras during inspections will help the labour inspectors maintain the integrity, professionalism and transparency at the highest level during the carrying out of their activity. EU will continue helping the state’s institutions, so that the citizens benefit from qualitative and transparent inspection services,’’ EU Ambassador to Moldova Jānis Mažeiks said.         

Also, according to the authorities, the use of the technologies will improve the degree of responsibility and transparency in the process of collection of evidence, thus protecting the inspectors from blackmail and charges of abuse and corruption.  

„This contribution represents just a small part of the project implemented by IOM, which is focused both on the improvement of the legal framework and of the present policies in the labour inspection sector and on the consolidation of the labour inspectors’ capacities, in order to ensure a better access on the labour market and improved working conditions in Moldova, as well as on the providing of the material support needed. This support will contribute to the sustainability of the general activities regarding the improvement of the regulatory framework necessary in the context of the institutional reform underway, including in the context of the adjusting of the national legislation to the EU’s Acquis and the IOM’s standards,’’ the director of the IOM Regional Office, Claire Harasty, said.

The overall acquisition costs amount to about 45,000 euros. Those 30 cameras will be distributed to ten strategic locations – the headquarters of the State Labour Inspectorate and the territorial labour inspectorates from Chisinau, Balti, Cahul, Cimislia, Drochia, Edinet, Orhei, UTA Gagauzia, Calarasi and Causeni.   

The package of equipment includes licences, magnetic kits, chargers, controllers, a central working station and specialized software. Also, inspectors from all over Moldova will benefit from training sessions for the correct use of the equipment and will receive technical support during one year.  

The overall budget of the project, EU support for a more inclusive labour market in Moldova, is of 2 million euros.