Inclusive and Productive Employment in Moldova – Phase II

Moldova has had success in reducing headline informal employment and unemployment in recent periods. Progress here masks challenges including a sectoral dimension to informality, low labour force participation rate of women, and predominance of micro enterprises.

The "Inclusive and Productive Employment in Moldova – Phase II" adopts an integrated approach that responds to these challenges at macro, meso and micro levels in contributing to an enabling environment for the creation of decent work for all. The intervention considers that an enabling policy framework requires strong institutional capacity to deliver, but full realization of their transformational promise requires connection to enterprise level change anchored in social dialogue.

At macro level, the project contributes to changes in legislative and policy frameworks from a new National Employment Programme to a gender responsive National Formalization Strategy. At meso level, institutional capacity of state institutions, such as the Labour Inspectorate and the Employment Agency, and of tripartite bodies to deliver local employment partnerships will be developed. Application of ILOs SCORE module and occupational safety and health interventions at enterprise level anchor micro level interventions. Interventions adopt a cross-cutting priority on gender equality, EU acquis, social dialogue and coordination with development partners.

By 2030, a stronger and more coherent policy framework supported by enhanced contribution of social dialogue and improved institutional capacity will enable reduced informality, better working conditions in small and medium enterprises, and the creation of productive employment opportunities in Moldova.