Irina Vlah, leader of the Republican Party “Heart of Moldova,” has called on the government to raise the minimum wage in Moldova to at least half the average salary across the economy. She argues that the current system provides foreign workers with a higher minimum wage than Moldovan citizens, TRIBUNA reports.

In a public statement, Vlah said that in 2026, the minimum wage for employees in Moldova stands at 6,300 lei, while the minimum salary for foreign workers coming to the country is 8,700 lei. According to the politician, the latter amount represents half of the average monthly salary across the economy, which currently stands at 17,400 lei.

“We have reached the point where foreign workers are better protected in the Republic of Moldova than our own citizens! While the minimum wage for employees in Moldova is 6,300 lei, for migrants who have come to work in our country, it is 8,700 lei,” Irina Vlah stated.

The politician also noted that the proposed increase in the minimum wage for Moldovan employees next year could amount to just a few hundred lei, or at most 1,000 lei. Meanwhile, she argued, the expected increase in the average salary across the economy could automatically lead to a further rise in the minimum wage for foreign workers.

Vlah emphasized that she has nothing against migrant workers but opposes what she considers discriminatory treatment of Moldovan citizens.

“I publicly call on the government to establish that the minimum wage in the Republic of Moldova must be no less than half the average salary across the economy. If the average salary in 2027 reaches 20,000 lei, then no one in the Republic of Moldova should earn less than 10,000 lei,” the party leader said.

According to Vlah, such a measure would significantly increase the incomes of low-paid employees and address what she describes as unequal treatment of Moldovan citizens compared with migrant workers.