Abstract
Traditionally, national labour legislation in the Republic of Moldova presumes that most, if not all jobs constitute “standard” employment relationships, i.e. they are defined as a job that is continuous, full-time, involving a clear subordinate and direct relationship between the employer and the employee. However, Non-Standard Forms of Employment (NSFE) have become more common in Moldova, comprising temporary work, such as seasonal and daily workers in agriculture, as well as part-time work, on-call work, multi-party work, and self-employment. By comprehensively assessing national labour law, this report provides a definition and classification of NSFE, examines how they relate to relevant social protection safety nets, and, investigates the legal nexus with undeclared work, as well as the overall impact on women’s rights at work. The report identifies that flexible working arrangements, child-care services for employees, and remote work of foreigners constitute some of the main developments requiring reforms to better regulate NSFE and their impact on the labour market. Moldova must adopt fiscal and monetary policies that foster opportunities for full employment. Regulation through national legislation, collective bargaining, and comprehensive social protection systems will be key to ensuring that non-standard employment is decent work in the interest of both workers and enterprises.