New opportunities for professional development, salary supplements for employees in Moldova's social assistance system

Chisinau, September 23, 2026 – The employees of the social assistance sector will be able to advance professionally and receive salary supplements through the establishment of a system of professional qualification grades. This provision is included in the draft law on the social assistance system, the digitalization of social services and the professional development of staff, examined by the commission for social protection, health and family.

The document proposes the establishment of a system comprising five professional qualification grades for personnel in the social assistance system, with Grade I representing the highest level of qualification. Each grade will correspond to a monthly salary supplement ranging from 750 to 2,000 lei, depending on the qualification level got.

The system will be implemented gradually, and the first certification stage for awarding Grade V is scheduled for 2028. For professionals already working in the system, certification will be carried out in stages over a period of three years.

The draft law also provides for the establishment of a professional development system for employees of the social assistance sector. It will include more stages, from professional induction, which involves integrating newly employed staff, and continuing education to competency assessment and supervision of professional activities. The aim is to create a clear career path and support employees in developing their skills throughout their careers.

At the same time, the draft law proposes that employees of the social assistance sector, whose long-term professional training programmes or master's studies are financed by the institution, organization, or public authority where they work, undertake to continue working there for a period proportional to the duration of their training.

The amendments proposed to the Law on Social Assistance provide for the introduction of the concepts of case management and vulnerability risk. The concept of applicant will also be reformulated, in order to expressly regulate situations in which an application for social assistance may be submitted on behalf of the family by a guardian or another authorized person.

The amendments proposed to the Law on Social Services also concern the regulation of case management as a process preceding the exercise of the beneficiary's right to social assistance, as well as giving territorial social assistance agencies the status of social service providers. The draft law also sees that records of social services and beneficiaries will be maintained through the eSocial system, ensuring unified, efficient and transparent management of social data and cases.

The draft law was developed by the Labour and Social Protection Ministry and will be submitted to parliament for consideration in its first reading.

Directorate for Communication and Public Relations of Moldova’s Parliament