Moldova proposes unemployment benefits for temporary protection holders

A new draft law in the Republic of Moldova aims to provide individuals under temporary protection with access to labor market promotion services, including unemployment benefits. The legislation is designed to facilitate the employment of displaced persons from Ukraine while simultaneously addressing labor shortages in specific sectors.

As of June 3, 2026, 52,649 Ukrainian citizens had received temporary protection in Moldova, with approximately 65.8% falling within the 18 to 59 age demographic. The implementation of these active labor market measures is estimated to cost between 4.2 and 5.1 million lei annually. Starting in 2027, these costs are expected to be covered by the state budget under the ‘Unemployment Protection’ subprogram.

Authorities anticipate that employing approximately 1,484 individuals through these measures could generate roughly 43.1 million lei per year in income tax revenue for the state budget. Deputy Nicolae Mărgărinț noted that over 4,000 work permits had already been issued in 2026.