Moldova to streamline public sector pay scales by 2032 for equity
Moldova has launched public consultations on a sweeping structural reform of its public sector payroll system. The initiative aims to build an equitable, predictable, and performance-driven remuneration framework across all state institutions.
The Ministry of Finance announced that the draft bill will undergo public review until July 2, 2026. The strategy introduces a phased implementation schedule running through 2032, with an intermediate evaluation set for 2029.
Fiscal sustainability and baseline consolidation
The overhaul prioritizes long-term fiscal discipline, anchoring the total public wage bill below 9% of Gross Domestic Product. A core element of the reform is the simplification of the country's fragmented salary calculators.
The government will reduce its current ten distinct pay-scale baselines down to six by 2027, and to a maximum of four by 2032. At first mention, these baseline indicators range from €214 (approx. 4,200 MDL) to €352 (approx. 6,900 MDL). This consolidation ensures that the base salary will securely constitute roughly 70% of a public servant's total monthly income.
Talent retention and performance incentives
The new legal framework introduces targeted market-competitive adjustments to attract and retain specialized professionals. Starting in 2028, the Ministry of Finance will implement temporary salary bumps for hard-to-fill public roles.
Additionally, a dedicated salary grid will be established for information technology specialists within the public sector. Clearer, transparent criteria will govern performance bonuses, shifting the system away from subjective allowances toward verifiable individual merit.
Inter-institutional governance
The Ministry of Finance emphasized that the project will significantly boost institutional competitiveness while enforcing transparency. To ensure rigid compliance and monitoring, the government will establish an inter-institutional coordination mechanism to oversee the wage policy.
All feedback and proposals submitted by stakeholders during the consultation window will be analyzed to finalize the legislation.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
