The number of state-run and privately-owned kindergartens will increase in the Republic of Moldova during the next few years. The authorities will make changes to the budget and the legislation in a move to improve childcare services. The announcement was made in a ceremony held to launch the project “Childcare System in Moldova: Systemic Approach for Better Offer and Promotion of Formalization”, IPN reports.
“There is political consensus for extending the crèche groups at public nursery schools and we will allocate 10 million lei for the second semester of 2023 to raise the number of crèche groups. I hope a lot that this thing will materialize. The issue is to be decided in the Cabinet meeting tomorrow,” said secretary of state of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection Felicia Bechtoldt, noting that the medium-term goal is to increase the number of family-type childcare services and of crèches at workplaces.
International Labor Organization national coordinator Ala Lipciuc said that to improve the childcare system, all the stakeholders should benefit from correct work relations and should avoid informal work relations. “The new European Moldova 2030 strategy envisions the improvement of labor relations in the Republic of Moldova, a 30% reduction in the number of persons who are out of work and a rise in the number of women on the labor market. The economic value that a woman can create on the labor market is clearly superior to the value she can bring in domestic conditions and we should not forget that the professional satisfaction influences the way in which women educate children and assert themselves in society,” she stated.
Virginia Rose-Losada, Global Coordinator and lead officer for the ILO’s Women's Entrepreneurship Development Program, noted that it is important for the women to be supported in their approaches to start businesses and build a career. For the purpose, the state must come up with policies, while the private business entities should ensure a comfortable business environment for the women to return to work faster. “We know that the government creates jobs, but the private business entities also do this. It is very important in this context to ensure an impact on women in business too. Acton should be taken at all levels, at policy level as there are particular aspects, specific gender barriers. We must make sure that the services meet the expectations of female entrepreneurs,” stated Virginia Rose-Losada.
PAS MP Marina Morozova said that when the employers make effort to create childcare services at companies, the employees are motivated to return to work quicker and both of the sides stand to gain as a result. “When we speak about childcare services and protection of mothers, we refer also to social protection. The ILO is a tripartite organization. We cooperate with the authorities, the employers and the employees. If the employers create childcare services to make sure the employees return to work faster, the companies also gain. When we speak about childcare, we refer also to decent conditions for those who work in the public sector. The babysitters should also benefit from social protection and other issues that would protect their rights,” stated Marina Morozova
