Moldovan government backs employers, employees on period of COVID-19 pandemic

Chisinau, 24 January /MOLDPRES/ - The employers and employees are backed by the cabinet on the period of enforcing the restrictions needed to cease the spread of COVID-19. The state will provide financial support through mechanisms which are set to attenuate the economic impact on the period of the pandemic crisis, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.    

On 30 September 2021, the government approved a draft law for the amendment of the Labour Code, which provides for more measures of support of employees on the period of the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Thus, the employees who get vaccinated against Covid-19 can ask for two paid days-off for each dose of vaccine administered. To benefit from compensations, the employee should submit an application to the employer who, for his part, will fill in an automated application on the website www.declaratie-electronica.fisc.md. The overall cost of the days-off, including the social insurances, is transferred to the employer by the State Fiscal Service (SFS), up to a ceiling of 558 lei per day, equivalent to a gross salary of 9,900 lei for 22 working days.       

Another measure of the government is meant to support the employees with a child up to 12 years of age or a child with disabilities, who learn online. One of the two parents can benefit, with the employer’s agreement, from paid days-off, in order to stay at home with the child. The employer should monthly fill in an automated application on the website www.declaratie-electronica.fisc.md and the National Social Insurances House (CNAS) will transfer to the employees the allowance for days off, equal to 50 per cent of the basic salary up to a ceiling of 150 lei per day, equivalent of 4,050 lei per month.  

Also, in case of reduction of the economic activity because of the restrictions imposed, the employer can instruct technical unemployment for employees, through monthly filling in an automated application on the website www.declaratie-electronica.fisc.md, after which CNAS transfers to employees the allowance for technical unemployment, equal to 50 per cent of the basic salary up to a ceiling of 150 lei per day or 4,050 lei per month. In both cases, the employer can supply the allowance from his own sources.     

Another mechanism of support deals with the regime of reduced activity. It can be demanded by the employer, with the employees’ agreement, through submitting application to the website www. declaratie-electronica.fisc.md. The regime is established through validation by the National Employment Agency (ANOFM). Subsequently, the employer distributes the working time among the concerned employees and monthly demands the help for his employees, through submitting automated application on the website www. declaratie-electronica.fisc.md. The financial support for the employees with reduced activity regime is transferred by ANOFM to employers, which represents 50 per cent of the value of the non-worked time. The worked time is paid by the employer. Under the Labour Code, the concerned regime can be applied for at least 25 per cent of the employees and the duration of the working time can be reduced by 50 per cent at the most.       

Photo: Government