In the words of Corina Ajder: “Reducing the double burden on women is essential if we want to build a more resilient demographic future”

Ms. Corina Ajder, Advisor on Labour and Social Protection, Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Government of the Republic of Moldova. Photo: Government of Moldova

Ms. Corina Ajder, Advisor on Labour and Social Protection in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, is leading efforts to reform social protection systems and advance Moldova’s path towards EU integration. From April 2022 to the end of 2024, she served as State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, overseeing labour relations, pensions, and energy poverty. A passionate advocate for gender equality, Ms. Ajder was a featured speaker at the peer learning round table on Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), “The Time is Now: Inclusive, Evidence-Based, and Transformative Solutions for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment,” organized by the UN Women Regional Office in Europe and Central Asia during the 2025 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Geneva. In this interview, Ms. Ajder shares Moldova’s bold steps in implementing gender-responsive family policies that address women’s unpaid care work and its impact on women’s participation in the workforce and the country’s overall economic development. 

“Gender equality means unlocking the full potential of our society - especially women - by removing the invisible barriers that hold them back. In Moldova, women are less active in the formal labor market and shoulder the majority of unpaid care responsibilities. Currently, only 1 in 10 children under the age of 3 are enrolled in childcare. When women do work, they earn 16% less than men – contributing to an 18% pension gap and insecurity in old age.

In response, we have launched a national program to dramatically expand access to childcare. It includes new public nurseries, private care centers, and alternative childcare options such as creche groups in kindergartens. Our goal is to create at least 5000 new places in the next two years.

We have also reformed parental leave policies to allow both parents to share caregiving responsibilities. Parents can now choose between 1, 2, or 3 years of childcare leave - a change from the previous rigid system that only allowed for 3 years. About a third of all parents now benefit directly from these options. 
Fathers can also now take 15 days of fully paid paternity leave, funded by the state.

We are also giving pregnant women the option to work longer if they are able and willing. Last year, about 20% of future mothers made use of this possibility.

In addition, we’ve expanded flexible work arrangements to help parents better balance family life and careers.
These gender-responsive family policies have had measurable impacts on women’s participation in the workforce and their overall economic empowerment. For the first time in years, women’s employment is on the rise. In 2024, we reached the highest female employment rate in six years. In the first quarter alone, the rate hit 40.8%, up from 34.3% in 2019. Today, 47,000 more women are participating in the labor market compared to 2019.

Research shows that if we continue diversifying care options, women’s participation could rise by another 8.4% over the next 10–15 years. That would be a powerful boost - not only for women but for the economy as a whole.

When women have real choices - about when and how to work, and how to share caregiving - they are more likely to participate in the labor market and invest in their families' well-being. Reducing the double burden on women is essential if we want to slow emigration, support families to stay together, and build a more resilient demographic future.

In conclusion, partnerships – both national and international – have been critical for these initiatives and results. The government can set the tone and adopt policies, but we rely on civil society, international organizations, and the private sector to scale those efforts, reach families, and drive innovation. These partnerships have brought new ideas, accountability, and the commitment to reach every child and every parent who needs support.”