Moldovan labour inspectors trained according to European standards

The labour inspectors in Moldova will use in their professional development a textbook published by European experts. The Ministry of Economy and Trade in cooperation with TACIS Project “Support to PCA, WTO implementation and to the EU-Moldova European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan” (ENPAP) presented on Friday, May 11, the textbook “Set of instruments for labour inspectors”, published with the financial support of EU. Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Sergiu Sainciuc stated at the presentation that training labour inspector according to European standards is very timely, given the recent reorganisation of the labour inspection system and the optimisation of the number of staffers. In addition, the qualification of labour inspectors and their individual professional performances will contribute to ensuring the protection of employees’ rights. Director of TACIS project Nicos Economou mentioned that the health and labour security form a key part of the social policies in the EU. Their aim is to improve working conditions, to prevent exploitation, labour accidents and work-related illnesses. Head of the Labour Inspection Dumitru Stavila said that the organisation he runs is operating in Moldova for six years, ensuring, in concert with employers, the correct application of the labour legislation and protection norms, in order to prevent work accidents and occupational diseases. He underlined that the strict measures did not mean that the legislation is always observed, stressing in this respect the importance of providing by inspectors consultation and methodological support to employers. Stavila is hopeful that the textbook will give an incentive to activity of labour inspectors regarding the provision of consultation to the employers. The Labour Inspection (LI) was reorganised into 10 territorial inspectorates, compared to 35 in the past, and each inspectorate will be responsible for 4 districts. The reorganisation also stipulated to halve the personnel of the central apparatus and to reduce the number of employees of territorial apparatuses to 81. The LI reorganisation will be performed in accordance with the provisions of the International Labour Organisation which stipulate that a labour inspector should supervise 20-40 thousand employees. The LI reorganisation also provides for employing as inspectors specialists in different fields: civil engineers, power engineering specialists, mechanics in agriculture, transporters, jurists, economists etc., a fact that will enable to ensure the efficiency in preventing and combating violations of labour inspection.