Moldova didn’t sign social assistance agreements with such states as Italy, Spain, and Greece, where a large number of Moldovans work. Thus, the Moldovans in these countries risk remaining without pension if they didn’t reach retirement before leaving Moldova. This also applies to persons who work legally abroad. “In order to benefit from pensions, the persons must contribute at least 15 years to the pension fund of Moldova,” Laura Grecu, head of the Labor Ministry’s Social Insurance Policies Division, has told Info-Prim Neo. The social assistance agreements that Moldova signed with eight states guarantee the Moldovans who work legally the right to pension in both of the states. If a person works abroad, but has the domicile in Moldova, they should file an application to the National Social Insurance House when reaching retirement. The application is also sent to the state where the person worked. “The competent bodies of Moldova calculate the pension for the period during which the person paid state tax to the national pension fund. The competent bodies of the state where the person worked calculates the pension for the other period,” stated Laura Grecu. She also said that such countries as Italy, Spain, and Greece do not want to incur additional costs for transferring the pensions to Moldova, when the Moldovans decide to return home after retirement. Currently, the Labor Ministry is holding negotiations with Poland, Lithuania, and Hungary, but it’s not yet known when such agreements will be signed as the ratification procedure is very complicated. The retirement age in Moldova for men is 62 years. A man is entitled to pension after a length of service of 31 years, but the length will rise annually by six months up to 35. The retirement age for women is 57 years, while the required length of service is 30 years. According to the National Social Insurance House, 52 Moldovans receive pensions from Bulgaria, while 18 from Romania based on the signed agreements. Thirty applications for receiving pensions from Estonia, Czech Republic, and Portugal are now being examined.