Living conditions in Moldova have worsened, trade unions

The living conditions of the largest part of Moldova’s population became worse. The young people do not benefit from appropriate social protection, while the number of persons working illegally is very high. The data were presented by the National Confederation of Trade Unions in a news conference. It said that there are great salary arrears, while the pensions of 90% of the elderly persons do not cover even the basis necessities, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Confederation’s chairman Oleg Budza said the minimum salary in 2011 was raised from 600 to 700 lei at the insistence of trade unions. This year it will be increased to 800 lei. Among accomplishments, Oleg Budza mentioned the approval by the Government of a decision, under which the budget-funded employees will benefit from a prize for the work done in 2011. “Regretfully, we did not manage to stop the promulgation of amendments to the Law on Sick Pay, which oblige the employers to pay for three days of sick leave to the employees,” stated Oleg Budza. He also said that the trade union movement’s main task in 2012 is to improve the mechanism for defending the rights of the salary earners and their families so as to ensure decent living conditions and security at work. Another goal is to further strengthen the trade unions. The National Confederation of Trade Unions includes 29 national sector trade union centers with over 500,000 members.