Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Mircea Buga is for raising the retirement age in Moldova. He made such statements in the talk show “Fabrika” on Publika TV channel, IPN reports.

“It is a condition imposed by the IMF. But we must also offer the people the possibility of working. Life expectancy in our country is over 72 years. The retirement age is yet low. If we increase it, we will be able to save money that could be used to raise pensions,” stated the minister.

Mircea Buga noted that at the first stage the retirement age for women and men will be equalized so that the women retire at 62 not 57, as now. The retirement age for men will be increased at the second stage.

The minister also said that they intend to reduce the big discrepancy in the sizes of pensions for particular categories of people. “Some persons receive very large pensions, which are large even for the European states. Others, especially the people from rural areas, have derisory pensions,” stated Mircea Buga.