Any reform of the childcare leave should take into account a number of aspects, such as maximum flexibility and shorter but better paid period. In the context of the situation on the labor market and the demographic situation, the childcare leave reform should encourage the fast return of mothers to work. Such proposals were formulated by the Partnership for Development Center in connection with a legislative initiative initiated by a group of MPs, IPN reports.

In a press release, the Partnership for Development Center says it welcomes any initiative to reform the childcare leave as this fails in all respects. It does not motivate couples to have the desired number of children, Moldova being the country with the lowest fertility rate in the region, significantly reduces the participation of women with small children in the labor market, with the family budget being thus affected, does not motivate the fathers to also take part in the raising of children, is a burden for employers who should keep the job for the caregiver, and creates preconditions for discrimination against women of reproductive age when they want to take a job.

According to the Center, the system should offer the parents maximum freedom to decide the period when they will benefit from leave, taking into account their needs. It is about parents who want a shorter, but better paid leave period plus appropriate crèche services and parents who prefer a longer, but lower paid leave period.

The Center’s analysis says the range of options could be based on a calculation formula that would estimate the value of allowance according to several criteria, namely: if the parents are or not socially insured; the leave period from which the mother will benefit; the leave period from which the father will benefit. The range of options should be negotiated and agreed at the start of leave with both of the parents.

Measures to encourage both of the parents to benefit from the childcare leave are needed. A ‘fathers’ quota’ should be applied to reserve a particular period of the parental leave exclusively for the father. This is not transferable and if the father does not use it, the family loses the right to use it later. Another proposal is to offer financial stimuli to the fathers who choose to benefit from a longer that allowed parental leave period.

The Center also said that more crèche services are needed for children aged between zero and three. The authorities should undertake to ensure access to crèches at a rate of 50% by 2020. Moldova’s successful experience in extending access to preschool education services (from a rate of 38.6% in rural areas in 2001 to 71.4% in 2012) shows only significant intervention on the part of the central authorities can guarantee progress in this regard.

On July 12, 2018, a group of MPs introduced a bill to amend and supplement the law on allowances for temporary incapacity for work and other social welfare. The bill authors aim to reform the childcare leave by raising the childcare allowance proportionally to the diminution of the childcare leave period.