Social guarantees for Moldovans in Canada

Moldovan citizens who work or have worked in the province of Quebec, Canada, will be able to benefit from social guarantees. The National Social Insurance House (CNAS) is holding on January 20–23 this year the first round of negotiations on the draft Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Quebec in the social security.

CNAS Director General Elena Țîbîrnă, together with representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection attended the meeting in Qebec.

The draft Agreement provides for the granting of old-age pensions, disability or survivor’s pensions, as well as social benefits in the event of a work accident or occupational disease. At the same time, according to the provisions of the Agreement, individuals who have worked in both countries but are not eligible for a pension in one of the states will be able to benefit from the totalization of contribution periods in order to meet the conditions for pension. Pension payments will be made monthly and transferred to beneficiaries in their state of residence – the Republic of Moldova or the province of Quebec.

Țîbîrnă said that the Agreement is the legal basis for guaranteeing the right to social benefits for our citizens who have worked legally in the province of Quebec.


“At present, we have about 15,000 Moldovan citizens who are potential beneficiaries. The signing of the Agreement with the Government of Quebec represents the continuation of efforts to build a social insurance system for Moldovan citizens settled abroad,” noted Elena Țîbîrnă.


The Republic of Moldova has concluded a Social Security Agreement with Canada; however, since Quebec is the largest province of the Canadian state and has its own social security system, a separate agreement is necessary.

So far, the Republic of Moldova has signed Social Security Agreements with 20 states, 18 of which have entered into force and are applicable. It is about: Romania, Bulgaria, Portugal, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Austria, Estonia, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Germany, Turkey, Belarus, Italy, Greece, Spain and Latvia.