Since paternity benefits were introduced in the second half of 2016, some 6,030 Moldovan fathers could have spent more time caring for their newborn children by claiming a 14 days’ leave paid from the social insurance fund.
Paternal benefits are granted to insured employees if they can confirm a contribution period of at least three years overall or at least nine months during the last 24 months preceding the child’s birth. Another condition is to take a leave within 56 days from the date of the child’s birth.
The application for the paternity benefit should be filed with the social security territorial office corresponding to the applicant’s place of residence or corresponding to the location of his primary place of employment. The application can also be submitted electronically via the website of the National Social Insurance Company, www.cnas.md, or via the governmental portal www.servicii.gov.md. The application must be submitted within 30 days from the date the paternity leave is granted, or else the benefit is not awarded.
In Moldova, the paternity leave was introduced in 2016 under amendments to the Labor Code proposed by Valentina Buliga, then Member of Parliament and chairwoman of the Social Protection, Health and Family Commission.