Central Market vendors work in miserable conditions, Valentina Buliga

The vendors at the Central Market who work outdoors have to endure the cold without hot drinks, a heater or proper clothing. The observation was made by the Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga after she visited the Central Market in Chisinau on February 11 to find out whether the labor rules are respected during the cold period, Info-Prim Neo reports. General state labor inspector Dumitru Stavila said that the people working outside must be provided with special clothing by their employers. The latter must also offer their workers at least 1 liter of hot tea per day. Employers must also make sure the employees have enough breaks and places where to warm. Inspector Marin Marcu who conducted the inspection in the market stated that most vendors didn’t have appropriate clothes. “In most cases, the labor rules aren’t respected. Employers don’t usually offer hot tea”, said the inspector. Meanwhile, vendors say they don’t have a choice. They need money and are willing to sell at the market under any conditions, be it winter or summer. “I usually buy tea with my own money. I have my own warm clothes. I work from morning till dark and the only good part is that I have a workmate. I work one day, she works the other. What can we do? We need the money!”, one of the vendors told the Minister of Labor. “What can we do? We have children, we need food. Selling here is the only solution”, said a woman wearing a jacket and shoes at -20 degrees Celsius. Valentina Buliga says all changes must start from the vendors themselves. “You must insist on better conditions to work. If you don’t demand them, the employer won’t be interested in offering these conditions. Insist on them to respect your rights!”, the Minister advised. The fines that will be imposed on the culprit employers range from 800 to 2,400 lei. About 5,000 people sell at the market and approximately 30,000-50,000 customers come at the market every day. Ahead of holidays, the number of customers doubles.