Moldova hikes minimum wage to 6,300 MDL, mandates public sector payments
Public sector employees in Moldova earning less than 6,300 Moldovan lei (MDL) per month will receive compensatory payments to bridge the gap, following a government decision on December 10. This measure comes as the national minimum wage is re-examined and will take effect on January 1, 2026.
“The increase in the minimum wage from 5,500 to 6,300 MDL is a significant step,” stated Moldova’s Minister of Finance, Andrian Gavrilița. He acknowledged calls for a higher raise but stressed, “This is the amount we can afford now, which includes compensating local administration expenses from the central budget.”
The minister also urged the private sector to offer fair and competitive salaries. “People must be paid better than the minimum wage. Setting it at 6,300 MDL is a step in the right direction to ensure higher incomes for the most vulnerable,” Gavrilița added.
The government plans to address further salary structure revisions for the public sector through an ongoing salary reform process.
This wage adjustment is partially driven by the necessity to comply with the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages, which recommends a minimum salary level of at least 50% of the average wage. Trade unions reiterated this requirement during a December 9 meeting with the Finance Minister.
Moldova's National Confederation of Trade Unions is demanding a further hike of at least 6.8%—the projected inflation rate for 2025. This increase is specifically sought to ensure better pay for the majority of public employees, including teachers and medical personnel.
The country’s average monthly salary for 2026 is projected to reach 17,400 MDL, an increase of 1,300 MDL, or over 11% compared to 2025.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
