June 5, 2025 – The Government approved today an important legislative package aimed at removing obstacles to business development and simplifying the relationship between entrepreneurs and the state. The proposed measures could generate annual savings of approximately 85 million lei for the business community – resources that can be reinvested in growth, job creation, or salary increases.

The key measures included in the draft law are as follows: Lifting the ban on registering a new business if a person previously owned inactive, unliquidated, or indebted companies. The current restriction limits entrepreneurial freedom and discourages new economic initiatives. In fact, a new business could help generate revenue to repay previous debts.

Removing limits on advance dividend payments, which are currently restricted to quarterly or semi-annual distributions. Under the new rules, dividends can be paid at any time, which is especially beneficial for small businesses and sole proprietors. Eliminating the requirement to publish announcements in the Official Gazette regarding changes to company addresses, names, or the initiation of liquidation procedures. In the digital era, this obligation has become outdated and irrelevant. Allowing food-related businesses to operate in private residential houses, provided their activity poses a low risk of disturbing neighbors.

Repealing specific qualification requirements for staff in commerce and food service. These requirements are difficult to meet in the current labor market and often duplicate existing hygiene and safety regulations. Introducing a digital transmission mechanism for the hospitality sector to avoid duplicate notifications to both local authorities and the National Agency for Public Health (ANSP). Local authorities will now transmit information automatically to ANSP.

Allowing businesses to place advertising on the façade of their commercial spaces without needing consent from all other property owners in the building. Reducing the reporting burden on companies regarding goods for military purposes – now limited only to items not already recorded in public registries. Postponing the requirement for passenger transport companies to use GPS systems connected to a centralized state platform – which currently does not exist – until June 1, 2026, to avoid unnecessary costs and allow for proper implementation.

Eliminating the requirement for paper documents when transporting animals domestically, thanks to the availability of digital systems like E-ANSA. Expanding the list of economic activities that do not require a formal contract with a veterinarian. Removing the need for prior approval from the National Food Safety Agency for construction projects in the livestock sector. A sanitary-veterinary authorization is still required when launching the business, which ensures food safety.

Canceling the sanitary-veterinary certificate for meat and other animal-origin products intended for domestic trade. Law 306/2018 on food safety already requires a certificate of quality issued by the producer, guaranteeing the safety and conformity of the product. Extending the validity of the sanitary-veterinary authorization for transport vehicles from one year to three years. Adjusting salary requirements for hiring foreign workers.

Currently, businesses are required to pay foreign employees at least the average salary (over 15,000 lei in 2024), while local employees may be paid the minimum wage (5,000 lei). In some sectors, this makes hiring foreign workers unfeasible. The new rule allows the minimum salary for foreign citizens to be reduced to 50% of the average wage (approximately 7,500 lei), depending on labor productivity.

These legislative amendments were developed by the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, with the support of UNDP Moldova, the USAID-funded MISRA Project (Institutional and Structural Reforms in Moldova), and OPTIM/Helvetas.

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.