Revitalising Social Dialogue in the Republic of Moldova: Identifying Gaps Against EU Regulations and Good Practices

The study identifies structural and operational weaknesses: excessive dependence on the government side, which permanently chairs the CNCNC and runs its secretariat; infrequent, irregular meetings, often without relevant public authorities; weak dialogue at sectoral, territorial and enterprise level; low transparency and no periodic reporting; no adequate support or funding; and no concrete action plan. Moldova also lacks mature participatory governance.

The recommendations include a time-bound action plan to reach at least 80% collective agreement coverage, as recommended by EU Directive 2022/2041; a chair rotating among government, employers and trade unions; a dedicated CNCNC secretariat unit; active sectoral and territorial commissions; mandatory attendance by authorities; online publication of documents; continuous monitoring; and an external audit every 4–5 years. The publication was produced under the project “Support for Labour Market Reform”, backed by Soros Foundation Moldova.