Moldovan PM says government in recent years manages to implement important social measures, to be alongside citizens

The government has succeeded in implementing important social measures to support citizens in recent years. Thus, the minimum pension has almost tripled, energy compensations were provided during the cold season, the list of free medicines was extended and more social services were created with EU’s support. Prime Minister Dorin Recean unveiled examples to this effect during the launch of the high-level Dialogue between Moldova and the European Union in the fields of social affairs, labor and education.

"The government is quickly advancing towards full integration into the European space – just today, the first meeting of the high-level Dialogue between Moldova and the European Union in the fields of social affairs, labor, and education was launched in Chisinau. In recent years, the government has succeeded in implementing important social measures to support citizens. Despite global crises and inflation, the government has always cared for the people," Dorin Recean wrote.

The PM stated that, in recent years, payments for pensions had almost doubled, from 16 billion lei to 30 billion lei. At the same time, the minimum pension has almost tripled, from 1,188 lei to 3,055 lei. "For comparison, over the ten-year period from 2011 to 2021, the minimum pension increased by only 547 lei - from 641 lei to 1,188 lei - or approximately 54 lei per year," Dorin Recean said. He also said that the average pension had doubled from 2,255 lei to 4,407 lei.

At the same time, the authorities provided compensations and aid to the most vulnerable citizens. "In the last winter, the neediest people received between 800 and 1,400 lei each month during the cold season. Until the end of the year, we will compensate the electricity invoice and the same price as before is paid for the first 110kWh," the prime minister stated.

The official further said that, thanks to the EU, more social services had been created in rural areas - laundries and social canteens, multifunctional centers. Another population support measure was a 40-per cent increase in the number of free medicines provided. Thus, in 2023, over 800,000 people benefited from compensated medicines, up by 20.5 per cent against 2022.

"Certainly, we want to do more and increase people's incomes faster. With the help of the EU Growth Plan, we will make unprecedented investments specifically to double the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and create well-paid jobs at home. Therefore, we must hurry to become an EU member state, where salaries and pensions are 3-4 times higher than in Moldova. Moldova can, when we take care of our seniors and work to create a dignified life for them at home," Dorin Recean added.

The first high-level Dialogue meeting between Moldova and the European Union regarding policies in the fields of labor, skills, education, social affairs, and children took place in Chisinau today. It was co-chaired by Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Roxana Minzatu, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Alexei Buzu and Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun.