More than 172,000 public-sector employees to receive higher salaries

Chișinău, November 13, 2026 – More than 172,000 public-sector employees will receive higher salaries starting January 1, 2027. The Committee on Social Protection, Health and Family examined the draft law providing for the reform of the unified salary system in the public sector and will submit it to Parliament for consideration in the first reading. According to budget estimates, approximately 3.2 billion lei will be allocated in 2027 to implement the reform.

According to data presented by the Ministry of Finance, salaries will increase by an average of 15.7%. For example, employees working in the defense sector will receive a 20.6% increase. In the public order and public administration sectors, salaries will rise by 15%, while in education, culture and sports they will increase by 14%. Employees of medical institutions financed from the state budget and those working in social assistance will receive 13% increases. The salaries of technical staff will also increase by 19%. Allowances for holding a scientific degree will be increased as well.

The reform of the unified salary system in the public sector aims to ensure a fair, transparent, competitive, motivating and financially sustainable system. Its main objectives include ensuring comparable salaries for positions with a similar level of complexity, promoting vertical equity and competitiveness, and establishing transparent mechanisms to reward performance. The ratio between the minimum and maximum salaries is expected to decrease to 1:10.5, whereas currently, in some cases, it reaches 1:26.

The draft law clarifies the components of the monthly salary. It will consist of the base salary and a variable component, which may not exceed 30%. At the same time, the fixed monthly allowance, currently amounting to 1,300 lei, will be included in the base salary. Another amendment concerns the gradual reduction in the number of derogatory reference values. Thus, from the 10 values currently in existence, their number will be reduced to no more than six in 2027 and to four by 2032.

Changes are also proposed regarding the performance allowance, so that it becomes a selective and credible instrument for motivating employees. The annual fund allocated for this purpose will decrease from 10% to 4% of the annual total of base salaries at the budgetary unit level. Employees who receive an “excellent” rating will be granted a performance allowance amounting to 10–15% of their base salary, while those rated “very good” will receive between 5% and 7%. At the same time, the current system of specific allowances, whose values range from 10% to 120%, will be replaced with three ceilings applied to their annual total: 10%, 20% and 30%. Meanwhile, one-off bonuses granted on the occasion of professional holidays and public holidays will be limited to 10,000 lei per year. Starting in 2028, a complexity index will be introduced for positions in the information technology sector.

The draft law also includes transitional mechanisms to protect employees’ incomes by providing compensatory payments in situations where the application of the new salary scale would result in a reduction in their income.

After its adoption, the law will enter into force upon the publication in the Official Journal, while the salary increases will be applied starting January 1, 2027.

Communication and Public Relations Department of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova