Moldova delays teacher salary hikes until 2026 citing budget reform
Moldovan teachers must wait until 2026 for salary increases as authorities prioritize structural pay reform.
Teachers' salaries in Moldova cannot be increased under the current budget, with requested raises delayed until the implementation of a new legislative framework. Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu called on educators to remain patient until next year, explaining that wage hikes depend on a comprehensive overhaul of public sector compensation.
The Speaker clarified that authorities are currently rewriting Law No. 270 on the unitary salary system. He described the existing legislation as an obsolete framework that no longer reflects economic realities and is riddled with structural pay gaps.
"I come from a family of educators myself; I know these struggles firsthand," Grosu stated during a broadcast on Jurnal TV on December 17. "We are working to rectify systemic inequities in Law 270, which was distorted by past pressures. While we previously directed funds to bolster the Central Electoral Commission and the Audiovisual Council due to critical election-cycle demands, those allocations remain small compared to the total education budget needs."
Grosu emphasized that the delay is a matter of fiscal timing rather than a lack of respect for the profession. "We promise better news next year. This is not intentional, nor does it reflect a lack of care for the teaching community. We simply need a bit more time to finalize the new system," the Speaker added.
The government’s stance follows widespread symbolic protests on December 16. Teachers across several Moldovan schools staged "sit-in" demonstrations, holding white sheets and signs reading "Dignity for Education" to demand constitutional respect for labor rights and concrete solutions to the system's financial crisis.
The Ministry of Education and Research acknowledged that current pay scales fall short of justified expectations. However, the Ministry indicated that any significant adjustment—aligned with real economic needs—will likely only materialize in September 2026, contingent on projected economic growth and Ministry of Finance approval.
Finance Minister Andrian Gavriliță echoed these concerns on Moldova 1, admitting the teachers' demands are valid. However, he warned that granting immediate raises under current conditions would be fiscally irresponsible, forcing the state to resort to high-interest loans just to cover basic monthly payroll obligations.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
