Moldovan cabinet approves amendments to labour code

Chisinau, 23 June /MOLDPRES/ - The cabinet of ministers, at a today’s meeting, approved a string of amendments and completions to Moldova’s Labour Code. The move is aimed at improving the business environment and the investment climate through upgrading the labour legislation and redefining some obligations of wage earners, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.   

Thus, the employers will be exempted from the obligation to present information about the staff to the territorial labour inspection, as well as to issue to the wage earners nominal permits on access to the building. At the same time, the issuance of the order on employment will become optional, which will help reduce the administrative burden on employers.    

The individual labour contract with foreign citizens could be concluded for a definite period. This change is needed, given that foreigners carry out their work according to the note on provisional stay, issued for a definite period of time.  

At the same time, the individual labour contracts will cease including when the authorities withdraw the authorization giving the person right to act in a certain profession. For instance, for drivers, when the drivers’ licence is withdrawn. Also, the leaders of branches or representations of companies will have to inform the employer, in a written form, about intention to resign one month before this.  

The document promoted by the cabinet also regulates the cases of serious violation of the labour obligations. Among them, there are the reception and issuance of assets, as well as of financial means without processing the needed documents; providing services by use of office in exchange of a remuneration; use of money collected and assets of employer on personal purposes. Also, the non-observance of the clause of confidentiality; violation of the security and labour health requirements; refusal to undergo the medical examination, when compulsory, causing material damage in a size exceeding five average monthly salaries will be considered serious infringements.  

The document also sees that the wage earner will be obliged to inform the employer of leader about the impossibility to come to work, immediately after the unexpected circumstances appeared. Also, employers will be given possibility to apply the test period for young specialists.  

The draft law was elaborated within two working groups, under the aegis of the Economic Council under the Prime Minister, with the participation of representatives of the public authorities, business associations, trade union and employers’ organizations, as well as of the civil society.   

The document is to be submitted to parliament for consideration.