The MPs passed a bill to ratify an agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Portugal that allows persons maintained by members of the diplomatic, administrative and technical personnel of embassies and consular offices to do paid work, IPN reports.

According to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Daniela Morari, when the agreement is ratified, the husbands or wives of members of the diplomatic personnel will be able to work. When they take a job, they will not benefit from state allowances. Besides the authorization that they will get for being able to work, these will also benefit from social protection based on an agreement signed by the two states.

For now, the agreement applies to the personnel of Moldova’s Embassy in Lisbon. As the Embassy of Portugal based in Bucharest covers also Moldova, the Portuguese side will be able to benefit from this treaty when it has diplomats residing in Moldova.

Currently, the Republic of Moldova has similar agreements with Germany, Canada, the United States, France, and Romania. Bilateral agreements in the area are also being negotiated with Turkey, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.