ILO initiative empowers young mothers to enter workforce

A new ILO initiative empowers young mothers to enter the workforce in the Republic of Moldova. Anastasia Chistol is a young entrepreneur from Chisinau, Moldova. With support from the ILO, she started a home-based creche for children under three, helping young mothers join the labour market.

In her childhood, Anastasia dreamed of pursuing a profession related to children. However, years later she became an economist. She worked hard for over a decade. After having two children, her love for spending long periods of time with kids only increased. She took courses in child psychology to learn more about how they develop, learn, and perceive the world. 

One day, Anastasia discovered an ILO initiative aimed at empowering women by promoting entrepreneurship, employment and enhancing access to alternative childcare services. She decided to apply. This decision changed her life. 

In Moldova, women have significantly lower average activity and employment rates than men as a group. Despite being qualified for work, nearly 160,000 women, mostly aged 25-34, are inactive and excluded from economic opportunities. The unpaid work (4.9 hours a day, twice that of men), as well as a lack of reliable and affordable childcare, keeps women out of the workforce, while at the same time labour shortages strain the economy. 

In recent years, the government has implemented significant policy measures to address barriers to women’s employment and increase their participation in the workforce. Maternity benefits have been improved, and parental leave options have been expanded to encourage mothers to return to work sooner. Fathers are now entitled to paid paternity leave, enabling shared caregiving responsibilities. In addition, public childcare facilities have been renovated and expanded. However, childcare service for children aged 0–3 remains much less common than for older children. In Moldova, only 15 per cent of children under three are enrolled in preschool. The government has pledged to enrol every third child of this age group in childcare services by 2026. 

To help achieve this goal, alternative childcare services operated by private sector providers were introduced in 2022. The private options include workplace childcare, home-based crèches, and individual nanny services.  

With funding from Sweden, the ILO in Moldova has been testing the new models of alternative childcare facilities. It also facilitated the development of relevant sanitary requirements and standards, and tested them through pilot projects. For instance, in a ground-breaking initiative, telecommunications operator Orange Moldova has unveiled "Orange Kids," an on-site childcare facility for their employees.  

The ILO has also supported the establishment of family-style crèches by offering entrepreneurship training to applicants interested in setting them up. Additionally, the ILO provided support in business planning, mentorship, and financial grants to help launch sustainable economic activities. 

This was carried out in partnership with the Agency for Women Entrepreneurship of Moldova (AFAM) for 25 participants, including Anastasia Chistol. 

“Before joining the ILO project, I only had basic knowledge about running a private business," recalls Anastasia. "I wasn’t entirely sure I could manage a business entreprise on my own. However, the ILO Start and Improve Your Business (SYIB) training course greatly enhanced my knowledge and confidence. With guidance, I developed a business plan, and, together with two other women, won a business plan competition”. 

"I must admit, I was nervous on my first day of work, even though it was happening in my own home," Anastasia continues. "Even though everything was ready for the children to arrive, I was anxious about how they would react to me, a stranger to them. My heart settled when Valeria, a first-timer, jumped into my lap as if we had been friends for a long time. We accepted each other right away," smiles Anastasia. 

The crèche can accommodate up to five children under three, simultaneously. They can play, listen to stories, go for walks, and enjoy their little community. 

Anastasia feels proud of the support and understanding she gets from her family—her husband and two daughters. At first, Maria, the youngest, was jealous about sharing her mother with other kids. But now, she proudly says her mother is doing wonders by caring for other children and helping their parents work, study, or enjoy their hobbies.  

Anastasia also values advice from other women in the childcare business. With ILO's support, a network has been created for peer learning and exchange. 

With Anastasia' childcare facility, parents feel confident and at peace knowing their children are in an environment that feels like home. In addition, providing alternative childcare services and affordable childcare options has the potential to alleviate the fear of having children and may help increase the birth rate, which is currently declining in Moldova. 

“My belief has always been that women should support and uplift one another,” says Anastasia firmly. “I truly believe that when women empower each other, they can change the world for the better.” 

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Source: ILO