6,300 lei minimum wage prompts pay hikes for Moldovan state workers
The Moldovan Parliament approved in its first reading an adjustment to compensatory payments for public sector employees earning salaries below 6,300 lei (approximately €315). These changes are necessary to bridge the gap created by the substantial minimum wage increase coming into effect in 2026.
This adjustment to the public sector pay system ensures that no state worker's actual salary falls beneath the new, higher national minimum wage. The Legislature voted on amendments to the Law on the unitary salary system for the public sector.
The driving force behind this measure is the new national minimum wage of 6,300 lei, effective from the start of 2026. Consequently, state institution employees whose current monthly pay is lower than this new threshold will receive compensatory payments.
The supplementary payment will be calculated as the difference between the new 6,300 lei minimum and the employee's current monthly salary, determined according to labor law. This amount will be proportionally recalculated based on the actual time worked.
The new provisions will take effect on January 1, 2026. According to a Parliament press release, the guaranteed minimum wage for state workers in Moldova has seen a steady increase, rising from 2,000 lei in 2020 to the future 6,300 lei in 2026.
Additionally, the legislative amendments include supplementary benefits for the staff of the National Center for Crisis Management. The bill specifically grants a special, specific bonus for staff involved in organizing and coordinating major crisis management planning. It also provides additional salary grades for the Center's employees.
The bill is now scheduled to be examined by Parliament for a second, final reading.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
