Family-friendly spaces and workplace childcare facilities are becoming increasingly popular among private sector companies

Companies in the Republic of Moldova are increasingly integrating family-friendly policies to support women’s return to the labour market and create conditions that help employees better balance professional and family life.

The growing interest in support services for families and employees — including workplace childcare facilities and flexible working arrangements — comes amid the need to encourage women’s participation in the labour market and improve staff retention.

One such example is ,,Bucuria S.A.” which has joined the initiative promoted by UNFPA in Moldova, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova , aimed at developing family-friendly workplace policies. Bucuria is one of the 25 private companies in Moldova planning, over the next two years, to adopt family-friendly workplace policies, including the development of a mini childcare facility for children aged 0–3 and a psycho-emotional support group for employees.

On the occasion of the International Day of Families, UNFPA and Bucuria symbolically marked this partnership through an event organized at the company’s headquarters, bringing together employees and their children to celebrate and discuss future perspectives.

“It has been proven that workplace support policies and measures help families achieve a real balance between professional and personal life,” said Karina Nersesyan, UNFPA Representative in Moldova. “At the same time, these policies represent a win-win strategy for both employers and employees: flexible and hybrid work arrangements help reduce staff turnover and absenteeism, workplace childcare services facilitate women’s return to the labour market and talent attraction, while paternity leave increases women’s chances of returning to work after maternity leave.”

“We are honoured to join this partnership with UNFPA and contribute to the development of family-friendly policies within Bucuria S.A.,” said Ecaterina Cechina, Executive Director of Bucuria S.A., highlighting the importance of this initiative for the company’s organizational culture and employee wellbeing. “We want to provide our employees with an environment where they feel supported, can harmoniously combine professional and family life, and where women can return to work with confidence, without having to choose between family, children and career advancement.”

The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova, Sergiu Harea, noted that the involvement of the private sector in promoting family-friendly policies is becoming increasingly important in a changing economic and demographic context:

“Through this partnership, we aim to encourage and support companies that invest in the well-being of their employees and in creating a more inclusive working environment for families. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry will continue to promote and give visibility to these initiatives on its institutional platforms, so that good practice examples can inspire more companies in the Republic of Moldova to adopt family-friendly policies.”

Currently, official data show that only 46% of parents with children under the age of two are economically active, while the employment rate of women with children under six remains low — only half of them are employed. At the same time, women take on the majority of household responsibilities in 68% of couples, creating a “double burden” that limits their economic and professional opportunities.

“I have been working at Bucuria factory for 13 years, and knowing that, while I am at work, my child is in a safe place, cared for and engaged in activities, would mean a lot to me. I would feel much calmer and be able to focus better on my work. That is why we support this project and are happy that Bucuria factory wants to create such a space for employees,” said Elena Mîrza, an employee of Bucuria S.A.

“This is a very welcome project for both the company’s employees and their children, as safe spaces will be created where children can stay securely and engage in activities appropriate for their age. Currently, parents are often forced to leave their children at home with older siblings, which creates stress and may pose risks for children,” said Alexandru, Head of the Occupational Safety and Health Department at Bucuria factory and father of two daughters.

The “Generations and Gender” (GGS) Study (UNFPA, 2024) confirms that these barriers are driven both by persistent gender stereotypes and limited access to childcare services. In this context, expanding childcare services and family-friendly infrastructure becomes a public policy priority, while the private sector can complement state efforts by offering concrete support solutions for employees with young children.

The UNFPA–Bucuria partnership is part of the project ,,Enhancing women’s resilience and excellence through inclusive and family-friendly employment opportunities”, implemented by UNFPA and UN Women with the support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). The project complements public sector interventions, including the national programme “Working Parents – Children in Crèches” implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.