Teachers and police demand higher salaries as government keeps reference value at 2,500 lei
The Government has approved the public sector salaries budget for the next year. This has prompted teachers, educators, and civil servants in public order and state security to demand significantly higher wages.
Trade unions argue that the budget increases do not keep pace with the rising costs caused by inflation. The Government has promised solutions for all public sector workers, but these will only be proposed as part of a legislative change next year.
Education Sector Demands
Education trade unionists are dissatisfied with the Government's intention to maintain the Moldova reference value for calculating salaries at 2,500 lei next year, especially as inflation forecasts hover between 7-9%.
"We demand these salaries be indexed at least with the inflation rate. That would mean an increase from 2,500 lei to at least 2,700 lei. Ideally, we want education salaries to align with the average economy level, which would require the reference value to be 3,100 lei today," stated Ghenadie Donos of the Federation of Education and Science Trade Unions. "We are realistic; we understand 3,100 lei is impossible now, but keeping it at 2,500 lei is simply inadmissible."
Angela Dascal, a methodologist at kindergarten 108 in the capital, shared her reality. Despite 20 years of service, she earns 13,000 lei.
"We need a raise to move beyond mere survival and genuinely live in our country. We want increases for both teaching and non-teaching staff," Dascal explained. "We barely survive from paycheck to paycheck; we borrow constantly. It helps that you have a spouse or a mother working abroad, or if you're like me, forced to take a second, part-time job as a psychologist."
Law Enforcement and Security Sector Demands
The "Sindlex" Federation of Trade Unions of Moldova is demanding a 20% increase in the salaries of civil servants in public order and state security. Their goal is to bring these wages closer to the projected average national salary for 2026, estimated at 17,400 lei.
"In light of the draft state budget for 2026, we have formally requested a 20% increase in the reference value. This would raise it to an estimated 3,000 lei for all civil servants with special status in the 'Public Order and State Security' occupational group," said Angela Otean, President of the "Sindlex" Trade Union Federation.
Prime Minister’s Commitments and Cuts
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu promises a salary boost for the public sector in the coming year.
"We are primarily addressing the most vulnerable: the minimum wage will rise from 5,500 lei to 6,300 lei, and the reference value will increase from 2,200 lei to 2,400 lei," the prime minister emphasized. "However, we will certainly revisit the salaries of public sector workers—teachers, police officers, doctors, officials, and all those who work honestly."
Munteanu also specified that exaggerated salaries within certain state institutions would be cut.
"I have heard the public's grievances regarding civil servants' salaries. In some cases, we will reduce wages that do not appear to be justified," the premier noted. "This concerns salaries at a few agencies that strike us as exaggerated."
The Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Natalia Plugaru, confirmed that the minimum wage is projected to eventually reach 10,000 lei, but this increase will be implemented gradually over several years.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
