The Council of Europe expert Matti Mikkola, labor law teacher at the University of Helsinki, made recommendations for improving Moldova’s legislation on social protection. In a roundtable meeting on September 8, the head of the parliamentary commission for social protection, health and family Liliana Palihovich said the lawmakers will cooperate with national and international experts in implementing all the amendments recommended by the European expert, Info-Prim Neo reports. Matti Mikkola made a study of 11 Moldovan laws on social protection. Liliana Palihovich said the study was conducted following numerous requests to interpret articles of the laws made by private individuals and legal entities. “We identified shortcomings in the legislation and asked the Council of Europe to help us assess the Moldovan legislation in the field and its compatibility with the European Social Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights,” Palihovich said. According to her, the Council of Europe expert ascertained that most of the social laws are based on Soviet traditions. “Matti Mikkola said that if we want to change things in Moldova and become part of the EU, we must adopt different approaches in the social sector. Therefore, many of his recommendations are aimed at removing the deep-rooted Soviet traditions,” Liliana Palihovich said In the roundtable meeting, Matti Mikkola said most of the laws he assessed are general, non-operational and sometimes inefficient. He recommended including a separate paragraph on social benefit regulated in other documents, like the sickness and unemployment benefit, and a provision about the rehabilitation of persons who suffer from diseases or are unable to work in the Law on Pensions. Matti Mikkola said the special laws on veterans and persons with disabilities must be separated or incorporated into the general law on social care and insurance services. He also said that the minimum period for providing unemployment benefit must be extended in accordance with the stipulations of the European Social Charter. The expert stressed the state must create an alternative system for covering the price of dwellings, at least for underprivileged groups and persons on low incomes. Other recommendations concern the social insurance, social assistance, allowances, etc.