Remote business will be easier to manage. Cabinet of ministers voted to remove several constraints

The executive approved, at the initiative of the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitisation, the draft law on the amendment of some normative acts “Development of remote business in the Republic of Moldova /Contactless Business in Moldova”.

The draft law aims to facilitate the development of remote business in Moldova with the help of digital tools. The initiative addresses both the technological aspects of remote identification and interaction and the aspects of conducting business and working remotely.

Thus, this project proposes to overcome the constraints in starting and managing a business remotely in our country by changing several aspects, such as:

1. The procedure of identification and initial registration of foreigners with the assignment of the unique identifier of the natural person (IDNP) without the issuance of identity documents, including in case the foreigner does not enter the territory of the Republic of Moldova. 2. Implementation of digital identification and authentication solutions (eKYC, eNotary and MobiSign) for diaspora and foreign investors. 3. Establishment of the legal regime of the electronic notarial act and peculiarities of the electronic notarial activity. 4. Make the English version of forms and public services for business mandatory. 5. The particularities of remote work, clarification of salary, tax and social contribution regimes for foreigners who will engage in remote work in Moldovan companies without becoming tax residents. 6. Possibility of remote employment in Moldova of foreign citizens without residence permits, clarification of procedural aspects of interaction in electronic format between foreigners and the competent authority for foreigners. 7. Clarification of issues related to the protection of remote workers, labour security, medical certificates, etc.

We mention, that recently in the context of this draft law, the project “Creation of universal technological platforms eKYC and eNotary” was launched, implemented by the Economic Council under the PM jointly with the eGovernment Agency and with the support of EBRD/UK-GGF. The implementation in Moldova of eKYC – remote identification of clients is very important for the business environment, but also for the public sector, where services are migrating online and the provision of these services requires identification of the person remotely. Electronic notarisation is also essential for investors in the country and abroad, helping to reduce costs and time spent on various transactions, which will be able to be carried out online.

As a result of this law, it will reduce undue costs for entrepreneurs through the use of digital tools, facilitating access to end-to-end digital services for entrepreneurs, foreign investors and diaspora.

It will also remove barriers to the remote hiring of skilled personnel, including from abroad, at a time when the national economy is experiencing an acute shortage of skilled labour.

The Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister is supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, funded by the UK Government’s Good Governance Fund, and the International Finance Corporation’s Investment Climate Reform Project funded by the Government of Sweden’s International Development Agency.

The Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister is supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, funded by the UK Government’s Good Governance Fund.