In the Republic of Moldova there are 134 thousand NEET – young people who are not studying, working or looking for work. This is according to the data “Social inclusion of NEET youth and their activation in the labour market”, prepared by the International Labour Organisation and presented at the Economic Council to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, within the working group “Labour market development”, chaired by Sergiu Harea, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

According to Violeta Vrabie, ILO Project Coordinator in Moldova, NEET young people are aged between 15 and 34 and 60% of them are girls and women. According to the data, young NEETs are not working or studying because of family responsibilities (the highest rate among women), the desire to work abroad (the highest rate among men), illness/disability, discouragement, etc.

During the debates, Anna Gherganova, Head of the Department of Labour Policy and Labour Migration Regulation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, mentioned that the Republic of Moldova has a youth development strategy and employment programmes. And the National Youth Agency, which operates in Moldova, is responsible for the implementation of youth policies and programmes. At the same time, the participants of the meeting mentioned the need to develop policy documents on the social inclusion of NEET youth and their activation in the labour field.

Roman Banari, President of the National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM), noted that the CNTM is ready to support the authorities in the process of examining the possibilities of adjusting the legal framework regarding the rights of NEET youth, and called for the elaboration of a multidimensional national programme, including several instruments. The issue remains on the radar of the authorities and the Economic Council Secretariat will continue to monitor developments.

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.