New pension agreement benefits Moldovan citizens in Italy
The agreement that provides Moldovan citizens who have worked at least 15 years in Italy with the right to a pension is described as "historic" and eagerly awaited, according to State Secretary Corina Ajder during her appearance on the Bună dimineața (Good Morning) show on Moldova 1.
The official mentioned that the authorities in Chișinău are considering expanding similar agreements with other countries, such as France, Canada, and Ireland.
"This is a historic agreement, one that our citizens have been waiting for decades, and it brings us great joy to share this news. The agreement was signed in an improved version, and the procedure was somewhat unconventional. The initial agreement was signed in 2019, marking a good start, but it did not include a crucial provision for our citizens—specifically, the totalization of contribution periods for work in both countries,” noted Corina Ajder.
The State Secretary outlined the benefits for Moldovan citizens as a result of this agreement: “Prior to the signing of this agreement, citizens were required to have 20 years of work in Italy and/or 15 years of work in the Republic of Moldova, a condition that not all citizens could fulfill. If they had migrated, they would have worked fewer years either in Moldova or in Italy. Consequently, many were denied the right to a pension due to the absence of an agreement. Many citizens will benefit from these provisions; it is an acknowledgment of their hard work, efforts, and contributions to the communities in Italy. It is a recognition from the Government that these individuals deserve protection.”
To date, the agreement has been approved by the Italian Government and ratified by the Parliament in Chișinău, but it still requires ratification by the Italian Senate before pension applications can be submitted. According to the State Secretary, a positive change is that people can now submit pension applications both in Italy and the Republic of Moldova. The agreement also includes provisions for disability and survivor pensions.
“The agreement benefits both sides; the advantages our citizens receive would similarly apply to Italian citizens in our country,” Corina Ajder stated.
Official estimates indicate that between 200,000 and 300,000 Moldovan citizens currently reside in Italy, but the actual number is much higher when considering the years from the 1990s to the present.
The State Secretary further mentioned that discussions are underway to expand this type of negotiation with other countries. “It is a top priority for our Government and ministry. Recently, I visited Paris, where, after eight years of stagnation, the French Government reopened negotiations with Moldova regarding a pension agreement. The next round of negotiations will take place in January, and we are expecting them in Chișinău. Next week, we are also expecting a delegation from Canada. These efforts are significant; we understand how important these matters are for our citizens. We will also negotiate with Slovakia in 2025, as well as other European Union countries. We have concluded negotiations with Switzerland and already have agreements signed with Spain. We also have an initial discussion planned with Ireland next week.”
Translation by Iurie Tataru
