Moldova: improvements in the system of social protection
Moldova’s Minister of Labour outlines changes to the system of social protection which will bring services closer to local communities
20.09.2026
Article published on the moldpres.md website
At a recent meeting of the National Forum of Social Protection Specialists, Natalya Plugaru, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, gave a general overview of the changes that have been made to the system since the Restart reform, highlighting an expansion of services, an increase in the number of beneficiaries and the diversification of community-based initiatives, MOLDPRES reports.
According to the Minister, the system of social protection mainly consists of people who work directly with service users: social assistants and social workers, child protection specialists, personal assistants, specialists working with victims of violence, labour inspectors, employment experts, staff responsible for determining pensions, benefits and disability status, as well as specialists in prosthetics and orthopaedic footwear.
The Minister explained that following the Restart reform, the system has shifted from more limited intervention measures to more extensive monitoring closer to local communities. Whereas support was provided to approximately 3,000 people per year in 2024, monitoring currently covers 78,000, according to figures quoted by the official.
A significant increase has also been recorded in monitoring visits. According to Plugaru, the number has risen from around 1,200 per week to 17,000 now.
Another area where the Minister highlighted changes was child protection where the number of children receiving case management support has increased from 2,700 prior to Restart to 23,000 today.
Meanwhile, the number of children in residential care has fallen from around 11,000 to 360. Plugaru emphasised the part played by professional foster parents and caregivers in providing a family environment for children who cannot remain in the care of their biological relatives.
Public services have also been expanded. Mobile teams are now operating across the country, with the number of service users they support having tripled.
The Minister also drew attention to the development of a home-based social care service, through which specialists provide support to around 15,000 beneficiaries each year, with a three-fold increase in the number of people taking advantage of the service.
The expansion of services is also reflected in support for victims of violence. Whereas up 100 women received support through social services prior to Restart, that figure has now reached 6,900, said the Minister.
The social insurance system serves more than 1.2 million people at any one time, said the official, explaining that the provision of social benefits not only involves verification and calculation processes, but also the accountability of specialists to service users.
Another goal of social protection is to support people in gaining independence by them having a job.
Plugaru stated that last year alone, employment services helped over 20,000 citizens into work. In the coming years, the Ministry intends to support over 100,000 in their job searches.
The official also spoke about the fight against undeclared employment. Inspectors identified more than 8,000 people working without a contract last year, compared to 80 in 2021. This year, the target is to regulate the employment of 10,000 people.
The Minister stressed that expanding services must also be accompanied by investing in the people working in the system. Among the priorities mentioned are transport and vehicles needed for community work, equipment, digitisation, professional training and developing new skills.
Plugaru said that qualification categories are also being introduced this year, which will enable specialists in this field to move up the career ladder.
Plugaru thanked all specialists in this field, including those not present at the Forum and those who were not nominated for an award, stressing that the social protection system functions on a daily basis: in institutions, in communities and in the homes of service users.
