Women from Republic of Moldova had an easier time finding employment in 2017. At the same time, their salaries were also bigger. Still, gender pay gap continues to exist, the number having not changed since 2016.

According to the data, last year, the gender equality index on the labor market grew from 63 to 64 points. According to experts, it was caused by more mothers being able to find employment after maternity leave.

"There was also registered a growth in salaries women gained, especially in cities. More women being seeking employment in fields other than agriculture" Rodica Ivașcu, Development Partnership Center, said.

"A slight increase, by one point, after all the actions taken by civil society to promote women, their presence in labor, especially of mothers with children. This thing is more visible in cities" Rodica Ivașcu, Development Partnership Center, said.

The index in health field also increased form 69 to 70 points. The study shows that this was caused by the state elaborating more programs from women, who suffer from cancer, as well as because men consult doctors less often.

Since 2016, in education, the number decreased by one points, reaching 53. The number of men in vocational secondary education institutions continues to be higher then women, the latter favoring to attend universities. In exchange, the numbers in politics maintain since 2016. Experts claim that few women continue to work for state enterprises. The points dropping from 51 to 47. Eight out of ten questioned people claim that men are supposed to be the ones to bring home money, while women have to take care of the house. 

"Gender discrimination is in top, being followed by disability. One local official declared that there is no place in law enforcement for elder women and has recently made other discriminatory claims" Andrei Brighidin, director of Development Partnership Center, said.

In 2017, the gender equality index in Republic of Moldova was of 58 points. The index is calculated on a scale from 0 to 100 points, where 0 means total discrimination between women and men, while 100 perfect equality. Therefore, the closer the number is to 100, the more is the level of gender equality.