Activity of the Government on January 31 – February 13, 2005

| e-journal #46 |

Decisions

As of February 1 Government raised salaries to state employees who did not enjoy a salary raise in 2003 or 2004. Salaries would be raised by 15 to 20%. According to Minister of Labour and Social Security, Valerian Revenco, it would take 52.4 million Lei (about 4.2 million USD) to cover for the salary raise. This is the third salary raise in the last three months. As of December 1, teacher wages rose by 30%, while as of January 1 minimal wage per economy surged from 100 Lei (about 8 USD) to 200 Lei as did wages of teachers in extra school institutions, social assistants, medical staff by 30%, 20% and 15% respectively. On January 13 Government approved yet another salary raise for staff of mayoralties and central executive committees of rayons. On November 1, Government raised pensions by 25%.
Government endorsed the initiative of Ministry of Education on raising the minimal quota of state scholarships from 40% to 70%. There are three types of scholarships depending on the average grade, i.e. 1st 216 for university students and 168 for college students; 2nd 182 Lei for university students and 139 for college; 3rd 168 Lei and 125 Lei respectively. According to the Minister of Education, about 21.1 million Lei (1.7 million USD) would be needed in order to increase the number of scholarships. This initiative enters in force as of February 1, 2005.
Government set a special commission to enforce the Law on revising and optimising normative acts regulating entrepreneurial activity, the so-called “guillotine” law. The Commission headed by the Senior Deputy Prime-Minister Vasile Iovv includes 39 members representing business, employers, investors and regulating bodies. Valeriu Lazar, Deputy Minister of Economy stated that the law was intended to abolish all forms of bureaucracy, which was strangling private sector, as well as optimising normative acts. As of February 6, regulating bodies shall be guided in their activity only by the acts published in the Official Monitor. A hotline would be set within the Ministry of Economy to register all the complaints from the businessmen on the enforcement of the “guillotine” law.
Government endorsed the draft Law on Preventing and Fighting Human Trafficking. The draft sets the legal framework for preventing and fighting human trafficking as well as assistance provided to the victims. Every two years Government would develop National Plan on Fighting Human Trafficking, while local government would in their turn draw action plans for its enforcement.
Currently neither Government nor NGOs possess exact figures on the victims of human trafficking. According to International Organisation for Migration office in Moldova, in the last four years 1,400 victims were repatriated to RM, out of which 11% were minors. Last year alone 236 girls were repatriated from Russia, Turkey, Arab Emirates.
Government approved Action Plan on celebrating 60th anniversary of the victory over fascism. Among others the plan provides for “lesson of peace” to be held in schools with the participation of war veterans; shows or special programs on the event; exhibits of historic documents and materials; theatre plays dedicated to the WWII; and scientific conferences.
Government endorsed amendment of the Law on Convicts Released from Detention, entitling them to a single indemnity for social integration, i.e. 75% of the average salary per economy in the previous year. Indemnities shall be paid on the day of release by the relevant penitentiary institution. Noteworthy, there are around 11 thousand convicts in Moldovan prisons.
Government established a Steering Committee responsible for the celebration of the 16th anniversary of Soviet troops withdrawal from Afghanistan. On February 19 — 20 The Committee of the Internationalist Soldiers will convene in Chisinau, a commemoration of the soldiers killed in Afghanistan will he held, while relevant families would receive a financial aid. In this respect, Ministry of Finance would allot 230 thousand Lei (about 18 thousand USD) from the Government reserve fund.
Government approved the amendment of programs of economic and social development, as well as the action plans related to Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy. Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev asked Ministry of Economy to consult WB experts and design a mechanism for implementing and monitoring EGPRSP within 10 days.
Government approved a draft law on RM adhering to Amendment to Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozon layer, passed in 1997.
Finally, Government approved the Agreement between the Government of the RM and Belarus on visa-free travel, signed on December 24, 2004.

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Activity of the Government on January 31 – February 13, 2005

Decisions

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