Modifications into the Labour Code of the Republic of Moldova

A number of modifications were introduced into the Labour Code aiming to eliminate discrimination in the workplace by various criteria.

Besides, there was extended the confidentiality period, that is employees' and employers' obligation not to disclose the information acquired while the individual employment contract between them was effective from three months up to one year.

There have been increased the allowed periods of suspension of employment contracts with persons engaged in long-term care for sick children and children with disabilities. Likewise, the period of possible technical idle time during which the employment contract may be suspended has been increased up to 6 months.

From para. (1) art. 85 of the Labour Code, which provides for the right of employees to resign on their own volition, has been excluded the mention of contract concluded for an indefinite period. Thus, the right to terminate at any time the employment contract was also given to employees with whom fixed-term contracts are concluded.

There have been lifted the restrictions to get women with children under three years involved in overtime work, work on weekends and holidays and shift work.

The obligation of employees who have undergone professional training or internship to work for a certain period of time for the respective undertaking has been excluded from the Labour Code.

One of the most significant modifications concerns the possibility of dismissals of pregnant women. It is worth reminding that previously dismissals of pregnant women were forbidden, except for the cases of liquidation of the enterprise. On the one hand, it gave them an additional safeguard against possible abuses by employers who were trying to get rid of them. On the other hand, it has often served as the ground for multiple abuses (sometimes quite serious) on the part of pregnant women themselves who neglected their duties and lacked discipline being under protection of the labor legislation provisions. This situation was decided to be changed. Now, pregnant women can also be dismissed on common grounds in case of infringements committed by them that relate to the discipline and observance of law in the workplace.

Finally, some significant changes have been made with respect to the time limit within which an employee can lodge a claim with the court in case of violations of his rights. This term has been reduced from one year to three months. Now the employee, in case of dismissal, will not be able to wait for the whole year before applying to the court with a claim regarding reinstatement in the position.

This post is part of the newsletter prepared by our law firm. You can download its full text in .pdf from here.