Moldova targets EU wage standards amid income growth
Average monthly salaries in Chisinau-controlled Moldova have reached 17,174 MDL (€876), more than double the 8,004 MDL (€408) recorded in the Transnistrian region.
Economic expert Veaceslav Ionita of IDIS Viitorul highlights a radical shift since 2015, when salaries in the separatist region actually exceeded those in the capital.
Growth of high-income earners
The number of employees earning over €1,000 monthly has surged from 3,800 in 2015 to an estimated 142,100 by 2026.
Those earning over €2,000 (approx. 39,200 MDL) are projected to reach 20,100 individuals next year, reflecting a strengthening middle class.
Official millionaires have also seen a tenfold increase, rising from 1,017 individuals in 2015 to over 10,000 by 2025.
The EU minimum wage challenge
Despite rising wealth, the minimum wage remains a concern for European integration. The 2026 estimate of 6,300 MDL (€321) represents only 36.7% of the average salary.
To meet the EU standard of 50%, Ionita argues the minimum wage should reach at least 8,000 MDL (approx. 156,800 MDL).
"The Republic of Moldova must establish a clear plan to align its minimum wage with the 50% European benchmark," the expert concluded.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
