Government policies in the field of employment should be redesigned to make the labor market more accessible in the context of the aging population and with a view to the “jobs of the future”. These were some of the recommendations made today at the “Partnerships for a Changing World of Work” International Conference in Chisinau.
In recent years the Moldovan authorities have worked with the International Labor Organization (ILO) to develop policies for improving employment perspectives. One such piece of legislation is the 2017-2021 National Strategy for Promoting Employment. With the advancement of technology – says Silvia Radu, Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection – new regulation is needed to “allow everybody to find a job he or she desires”. She added that it’s important to digitalize the workforce, with a focus on developing analytical skills.
Olga Gagauz, deputy director of the National Institute of Economic Research, emphasized the factor of the aging aging population and workforce. If the population continues to shrink at the current rates, Moldova will be down to 2.3 million people by 2035. At the same time, it’s estimated that the age group 45 years and older will increase in size, and some forethought is needed to adapt the labor market for the pre-retirement segment of the workforce.
Oleg Budza, president of the National Confederation of Labor Unions, said the trade unionists demand the urgent ratification of ILO’s Conventions no.102 (on Minimum Standards of Social Security) and no.161 (on Occupational Health Services) and propose an agreement among the Government, the unions and the employers’ organizations to consolidate social dialogue. “Workers expect higher living standards”, stated Budza.
Markus Pilgrim, ILO Director for Central and Eastern Europe, said Moldova has still a lot of work to do to address the great number of young people in neither employment or education, the high rates of migration and the workforce deficit. More needs to be done to ensure decent working conditions and reduce informal employment, as well.
The conference was an event dedicated to the ILO Centenary.