The social rights in the counties of the Eastern Partnership were the theme of a regional parliamentary seminar hosted by Moldova’s Parliament on May 18. The participants in the event examined the current situation in the field from parliamentary perspective with the aim of identifying ways of improving the implementation of the European Social Charter in the EaP countries, IPN reports.
The conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights, whose task is to assess compliance of the national legislation and practices with the provisions of the European Social Charter, represent a benchmark for the central authorities in their aspiration to improve the legal framework and to ensure the social rights, said Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Sergiu Sainciuc. He noted that Moldova is making considerable effort in this respect, but there are yet a number of problems to be solved, especially as regards the inappropriateness of salaries, social welfare, workplaces, etc.
Moldova has ratified 40 conventions of international labor organizations. Under the national plan of action for implementing the Association Agreement with the EU, the authorities must adjust the national legislation to 27 European directives concerning security and health at work. Currently, 10 directives are being transposed into the national legislation. Three more are to be transposed during the year.
Sergiu Sainciuc said the protocol providing for a system of collective complaints is to be debated. It enables the NGOs to file collective complaints about the non-observance of the provisions of the Social Charter. Currently, only 15 of the 47 countries adopted this protocol and these states have a developed economy and have resources for ensuring the observance of the social rights. Moldova hasn’t yet decided whether to ratify the protocol or not because the current economic situation does not allow ensuring social welfare at the European level.
The European Social Charter is a Council of Europe treaty which was adopted in 1961 and revised in 1996. The Revised Charter came into force in 1999 and is gradually replacing the initial 1961 treaty. The Charter sets out human rights and freedoms and establishes a supervisory mechanism guaranteeing their respect by the States parties. Moldova ratified the Revised Charter on November 8, 2001 and accepted 63 of the 98 provisions, but didn’t accept the additional protocol concerning collective complaints of 1995.
