The ILO, Switzerland and Moldova launch a major employment programme to help advance inclusive economic development in Moldova

The ILO, Switzerland and Moldova launch a major employment programme to help advance inclusive economic development in Moldova

This latest initiative is the second phase of an ongoing project that aims to expand productive employment opportunities and strengthen labour market institutions in the Eastern European country.

20 March 2026

Peter van Rooij, ILO Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Natalia Plugaru, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Moldova and Valérie Berset Bircher, Assistant State Secretary for Labour, SECO at the launch on 20 March, 2026 in Chisinau, MD

CHISINAU (ILO News) -- The Government of Switzerland, through its State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the Government of Moldova, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), launched the second phase of a long-running project aimed at supporting Moldova's transition towards a more inclusive, productive, and formal labour market on 20 March in Chisinau.

The project, titled "Inclusive and Productive Employment in Moldova - II", responds to persistent structural challenges including low labour force participation, high informality, weak productivity growth, and limited effectiveness of labour market institutions, in alignment with International Labour Standards (ILS) and related European Union law.

This latest phase of the initiative has 3 million Swiss Francs (3,803,000 USD) in funding from Switzerland, and it will be implemented by the ILO.

The first phase of the project, which ran from December 2022 until June 2025, resulted in a number of achievements including the

• implementation of a National Employment Programme focused on reducing labour market exclusion of women, young people, and other vulnerable groups,
• capacity-building for the Moldovan National Employment Agency,
• progress toward modern, evidence-based labour market forecasting, and
• social dialogue which resulted in the implementation of the national action plan on undeclared work and formalisation.

The second phase will consolidate these results and deepen collaboration with the Government, Employers' organisations, and Workers' organisations. Priority areas for 2026-2030 include:

• Advancing key policy and legislative reforms in employment, enterprise development, and formalisation through social dialogue and tripartite cooperation.
• Strengthening labour market institutions and systems.
• Addressing informality in the construction sector.
• Supporting productivity growth in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Lasting productivity growth and the creation of decent work cannot be guaranteed by the government policy framework alone. This is also why the project aims to strengthen tripartite social dialogue bodies in Moldova at all levels.

Valérie Berset Bircher, Assistant State Secretary for Labour at SECO

Valérie Berset Bircher, Assistant State Secretary for Labour at SECO stressed that "Switzerland is convinced that improving Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) productivity in a sustainable way and creating better working conditions go hand in hand. However, lasting productivity growth and the creation of decent work cannot be guaranteed by the government policy framework alone. This is also why the project aims to strengthen tripartite social dialogue bodies in Moldova at all levels. The project seeks to build partnerships and support SMEs in creating jobs, enhancing productivity, and improving working conditions."

Peter van Rooij, ILO Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia noted: "The launch of the second phase marks an important milestone in our partnership with Moldova's tripartite constituents. We will continue supporting evidence-based employment policies, stronger institutions, and effective social dialogue to promote social justice and decent work for all. We value our excellent partnership with the Government of Switzerland."

The ILO has active programmes in the Republic of Moldova focused on skills development for a green transition, employment creation in the care and related sector, as well as labour market institutions reform.