'Classes' on Moldova's vineyards

Children aged 11 are taken to the field to pick up grapes at a time when they should be at school, the chidlren's ombudsman Tamara Plamadeala said after paying a working visit to Cimislia district. During the visit, Tamara Plamadeala found out that the students work in the filed under a contract signed by S.A. Cimislia and the administration of the local high school “M.Eminescu” and the vocational school. The fifth-eleventh graders are taken to the vineyards of Cenac village to gather grapes daily, from 9 to 17. “Their right to study is violated,” Tamara Plamadeala said, adding that she will ask for explanations from the Ministry of Education over this case. Tamara Plamadeala said that the students are fed once a day and that they work during the hottest hours. They will be paid 0.17 lei to 0.30 lei per kilogram of grapes. “Article 46 of the Labor Code, which specifies the age of the minors and the working timetable, is broken. None of the minors signed an individual work contract. Thus the rights of the children are being infringed,” the ombudswoman said. Tamara Plamadeala has told Info-Prim Neo that this case is not the only one in Moldova. She said she will travel to districts more often to see the real situation and will ask the Ministry of Education to say under what normative document the students in Cimislia were allowed to miss classes. Tamara Plamadeala insisted that the children should return to school from tomorrow, September 22. Otherwise, she will lodge an application with the court to defend chidlren's rights.