The trade unions’ proposal to increase the minimum wage to 8,050 lei, starting from January 1, 2026, has been submitted to the Government. The initiative was addressed on November 10 to the Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, the Minister of Finance, Andrian Gavrilita, and the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Natalia Plugaru, reports IPN.

“As a candidate country for accession to the European Union, the Republic of Moldova must comply with Directive 2022/2041 on adequate minimum wages, which recommends that the minimum wage should represent at least 50% of the average gross wage or 60% of the median gross wage,” specifies the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova (CNSM).

According to the organization, this year, the ratio between the minimum wage and the average wage in the economy has decreased from 42.7% to 40.5%, and monetary poverty has increased from 31.1% to 33.6% in the last two years.

“The minimum wage is an essential tool for preventing poverty, but it must fully cover the national poverty threshold, set at 6,294 lei per month, and reach at least 7,860 lei gross,” the CNSM initiative states.

Trade unions argue that a minimum wage of 8,050 lei would not only contribute to poverty reduction, but also to preventing the exodus of the workforce and ensuring economic predictability for the business environment and budgetary wage policies.

“This increase would represent a concrete step in fulfilling the commitment of the Government of the Republic of Moldova to reach a minimum wage of 10,000 lei,” declared Igor Zubcu, the president of CNSM.

Starting from January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in the country has been increased from 5,000 to 5,500 lei for a full work schedule of 169 hours. For units in the real economy sector, the minimum wage has been set at 6,000 lei per month.