Labour market reform: employment and occupational safety policies at the centre of discussions in the "Labour Market Development" Working Group

Chair Sergiu Harea stressed that migration, demographic change and skills shortages require active measures such as training, entrepreneurship support and job subsidies. Adrian Lupușor described a paradox: employers report labour shortages, yet Moldova has the region's lowest employment rate, with 59.1% for ages 20–64 in 2024 against 69.5% in Romania. He said it requires a complex approach, including stronger active measures.

The National Employment Agency presented data on budget, beneficiaries and measures, and the employers' confederation proposed improvements and backed simplifying occupational safety requirements to reduce administrative burdens while keeping essential protections. Participants also discussed the newly approved youth hiring programme, which pays MDL 3,000 monthly for up to 12 months to people under 35 in their first full-time job in key industries, and called for a larger active-measures budget and a labour market development strategy. The event is part of a project funded by the Soros Foundation Moldova and implemented by Expert-Grup from November 2024 to October 2026.