The legislation that regulates the relations between employers and employees is outdated and is not adjusted for states of emergency, said employers who took part in a webinar organized by the Investment Agency in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), IPN reports.
Svetlana Bodaci, human resources director at a mobile phone carrier, said the current situation showed that the labor legislation is outdated and should be adjusted to the current conditions. Their company had to close its offices to visitors, but fully kept the salaries of employees who work according to a special program so as to prevent the risk of infection. Online sales were stepped up.
Daniela Vicol, of a transport company, noted that the carrier’s over 100 employees worked from home. The workload was reduced by 30%. The company encouraged its employees to take the remaining part of the paid annul leave. They communicate online in a group or by phone. The employees and the employers swiftly adapted themselves to the new working conditions.
The employers said they didn’t test all the employees who worked in the office for COVID-19. They chose to daily supervise the employees who filled out a questionnaire about their state of health. Other employers asked the employees to complete an own responsibility statement showing that they took the temperature and didn’t contact with sick persons.
Investment Agency director general Rodica Verbenciuc said the impact of the pandemic is more serious than that of the financial crisis of 2008-2009. However, none of the foreign investors announced their intention to close the business or leave Moldova. In a document transmitted to the Government, the employers propose a number of solutions to the crisis. Besides a flexible program for employees, they suggest temporarily transferring the employee to another job without the consent of this.
Thomas Foerch, project leader at GIZ, noted that for the German Agency for International Cooperation it is very important to help the companies keep the jobs. The state of emergency can be extended and GIZ is ready to offer support to the companies that need this.
