The Republic of Moldova becomes the first country outside the European Union to sign a cooperation agreement with the European Labor Authority – ELA. The document was signed during the visit of Minister of Labor and Social Protection Alexei Buzu to Slovakia and, according to the authorities, represents an important step in bringing the country closer to European labor standards, IPN reports.
The agreement provides for enhanced cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and the European institutions in a number of areas, such as labor mobility, coordination of social security systems and institutional capacity building. It will enable Moldovan workers to benefit from more protection and access to rights comparable to those of European citizens. Moldova will also be able to participate in the European employment network EURES.
The process of drafting the document started in November 2023 and included several technical consultations between the Ministry of Labor and the ELA. After adjusting the content to reflect EU candidate country status, the agreement was endorsed and validated by the European Commission.
The European Labor Authority was set up in 2019 to improve cooperation between EU Member States. Its tasks include coordinating joint inspections, providing information for workers and employers, supporting the application of EU labor law and mediating possible conflicts between states.
