Moldovan citizens who worked legally in Canada to be eligible for social benefits

Citizens of the Republic of Moldova who have worked legally in Canada will be able to receive pensions and other social benefits. The Government today approved the draft law on the ratification of the Social Security Agreement between the two states.

Minister of Labour and Social Protection Natalia Plugaru said at the Government meeting that the Agreement aims to strengthen the social protection of Moldovan citizens who are settled and employed in Canada, as well as to develop bilateral relations between the two states.

"The Agreement will guarantee social security rights for persons who have worked in both states. Our citizens will be able to benefit from the recognition of contribution periods to the social insurance budget that they have accumulated both in Moldova and in Canada, for the determination of pension rights and other social benefits. The Republic of Moldova has already signed 23 social security agreements, we have a large diaspora in Canada and soon we will also come with the agreement with Quebec, which is drafted separately, where we have an even larger diaspora," said Natalia Plugaru.

Under this document, Moldovan citizens are to benefit from old-age pensions, disability pensions caused by general illnesses, pensions and allowances for disabilities resulting from work accidents or occupational diseases, as well as survivor’s pensions or other benefits, determined in accordance with the provisions of the agreement.

The Agreement also provides for the possibility of exporting pensions and totalizing insurance periods completed in the Republic of Moldova and in Canada, in cases where a person does not meet the minimum contribution period required to obtain a pension. In such cases, beneficiaries will be able to obtain a pension proportional to the contributions paid in each of the two states.

To date, the Republic of Moldova has signed social security agreements with 23 states, 18 of which have entered into force and are applicable. These are social security agreements signed between the Republic of Moldova and Romania, Bulgaria, Portugal, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Austria, Estonia, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Germany, Turkey, Belarus, Italy, Greece, Spain, and Latvia.