A number of employees of the social system claim that together with the implementation of the “Restart” Program in the field of social assistance in Moldova, the entire social assistance system was paralyzed following the dismissal of qualified people from the field and hiring of unqualified people instead of these.
In a press conference hosted by IPN, Sergiu Butuc, former head of the Social Assistance and Family Protection Division of Cantemir district, who was employed in 2012 and dismissed from office in December 2023, believes that the “Restart” reform began with blunders and ended also with blunders. The promises that all those working in the field will remain in the system weren’t kept. They were dismissed from office under the pretext of not having professional skills and the necessary ‘color’. The vast majority were dismissed in accordance with the legislation on staff reduction.
Sergiu Butuc noted that on December 29, 2023, he and other employees were informed by phone that they would not form part of the new social system. These included him as head of the Division, the Division’s deputy head, the head of the Home Social Employment Service, the main specialist on children’s issues, two social workers, the chief accountant and the accountant. As the accounting year could not be finished, more than 150 people received their salaries for December only last week, while public office holders weren’t paid dismissal allowances in accordance with the labor legislation. All the calls to the district administration didn’t bring results. Instead of the fired people, persons without any experience in the field were hired.
Valentina Secăreanu, from Cucoara village of Cahul district, said that she had worked in the social sector from 2007 until December 29, 2023. Employees of the subdivision covering the villages Badicu Moldovenesc, Zărnești, Larga Nouă, Andruşul de Sus were fired. When they asked what the reason for the dismissal was, they were told that the unit and its employees were cut. On January 2, she was phoned and told that she was to concede her job to another employee. She later learned that the hired person wasn’t actually an employee, but a volunteer. It wasn’t fair to dismiss competent and involved persons from office.
Mihai Motroi, former head of the Cimișia Social Assistance and Family Protection Division, has 33 years’ seniority in the social sector. While in the system, he created 12 services based on partnerships with counterparts. He changed the appearance of the Division, which is now transparent and accessible to people with special needs. Experienced people who are not yet of retirement age were dismissed and inexperienced people without specialized studies were hired.
Olga Kirianov, another former employee of the system, said that she was invited by the director of the Cahul Social Assistance Division to be told that her employment contract would not be extended because she is of retirement age. But another pensioner was hired instead of her.
Mariana Buracu noted that she is a solitary mother with two children. She has been active since 1999. At the center where she worked, 15 employees were dismissed from different posts. She applied to be re-employed, but hasn’t been rehired so far.
Svetlana Patraman, former deputy head of the Cantemir Social Assistance and Family Protection Division, said that it is not clear how Moldova will integrate into the EU with such a high unemployment rate. She voiced hope that the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection will present a public report to say how it acted towards the people who practically become unemployed and turned from providers into beneficiaries of the system.
Note: IPN Agency offers the right of reply to persons who consider themselves targeted in the news made from the statements of the organizers of this press conference, including by facilitating the organization of another press conference under similar conditions.
