Switzerland will co-finance the Decent Work Country Program for 2021-2024 by offering €2 million in assistance to the Republic of Moldova. This way it will help achieve the objectives of the project “Inclusive and Productive Employment in Moldova” that was launched in Chisinau today, IPN reports.
Director-General of the International Labor Organization Gilbert Houngbo said it is imperative to invest in the training of citizens so as to improve the quality of work. “The labor market was recently subject to pressure as a result of a number of crises, like the pandemic crisis, the refugee crises and the energy one. It is a pleasure to learn that the Swiss Government decided to support the Decent Work Country Program. Decent work has always been a priority for the International Labor Organization. The policies on the labor market, including dual education and training, are a fundamental pillar that supports economic growth,” said the ILO official.
Loreta Vrabie, coordinator of the project “Inclusive and Productive Employment in Moldova”, spoke about the decisive factors that hamper the adjustment of the labor sector to the EU standards. She mentioned the low level of participation of the workforce, high rate of inactivity among the young people, which is twice higher than in the EU, and of young women who have a family and integrate with difficulty, informal employment, low quality of workplaces, low level of competence or lack of offers according to skills.
The head of the National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova Igor Zubcu noted that emphasis should be placed not only on profit, but also on the interests of the working people. “The idea of a new social contract was launched in the last congress of the National Trade Union Confederation. The new social contract should propose transforming the market economy into a social one, which would be oriented not to profit, but to the interests of the working people. Only by ensuring well-paid and decent jobs, we can solve many of the problems faced now by the mankind,” stated Zubcu.
Boris Zürcher, Head of the Labor Directorate of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland, said that for the enterprises to be able to develop, a system approach should be adopted. “An appropriate framework and stimuli should exist for companies to flourish on the labor market. Switzerland is sure that dual education and continuous training are a fundamental pillar for economic development. Dual education is the most popular form of education in Switzerland. The education system is designed so as to prepare the young people for the labor market. This way, the system offers the basis for learning throughout life. Switzerland will be glad to share its experiences,” noted Boris Zürcher.
Leonid Cerescu, head of the National Employers Confederation of the Republic of Moldova, agreed that the dual system for training staff is beneficial and involves the future specialist in direct activity in the sector.
Simon Springett, UN Resident Coordinator for Moldova, said the country should invest in the development of the capacities of the youth so as to cope with the demand on the labor market. “Over 30% of the young people in the Republic of Moldova do not work and do not study. Our goal is to help the Republic of Moldova to become a competitive state. It is imperative for the market to become competitive. The general vision is to help the country ensure a more inclusive and resilient society,” stated Simon Springett.
