Women demand right to equal salary

The Women’s Organization of the National Confederation of Unions in Moldova (CNSM) demands the state authorities to respect women’s wage rights. The union members protest against the low wages, harmful work conditions, discrimination at work and women’s worrying migration abroad in search for a job, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the organization’s data, one of two women has difficulties at work. When optimizations take place, women are more likely to lose their jobs. “Women confront many problems and the state isn’t able to solve them. We petitioned the Ministry of Labor, the Government, but we weren’t heard. Unfortunately, nobody listens to us”, said at a press conference Ana Selin, leader of union women. She slammed gender discrimination in Moldova, as men have higher wages, better positions, more free time, work in healthier conditions and often even work less. Meanwhile, women work in harmful conditions, are informal employees and don’t benefit of health insurance or other facilities. “Women emigrate to provide a living for their families. They are informally employed and have no insurance when they return home. We’d want the Labor Code to be amended so that there was more importance allotted to women’s safety”, declared Ana Selin. The union members also demand a rise for the maternity leave: from 30% to 40% of the salary for insured women and from 300 lei to 400 lei for the uninsured. Daria Bostan, head of the Women’s Organization of the Agriculture Unions, complained that authorities don’t answer to women’s numerous proposals and requests. “The average salary in agriculture is 1100 lei. That’s why women go abroad for black labor. We petitioned the Government to solve these problems, but our voices weren’t heard”, said Daria Bostan. About 57% of the CNSM members are in the Women’s Organization.