This section of the Visible Value aims to provide a quick overview of the state of the affairs about the recognition of youth work in the countries covered by EU-CoE Youth Partnership. In total it covers 53 country profiles (including 3 profiles for Belgium and 4 profiles for the UK).

The content in this section is based on several sources, including:

The sources of information are indicated at the end of each profile.

Back Moldova (Republic of)

A new Law on Youth adopted in July 2016 redefines the youth age as 14-35 years old and contains new concepts and definitions of youth work, youth workers, non-formal education, youth organization, youth centre, youth council, as well as new principles: co-management (parity); subsidiarity, inter-sectorial co-operation, etc.

As defined by the Law on Youth, youth activity (youth work) is any action with and for young people, of social, educational or civic nature, that is based on non-formal learning processes and of voluntary participation of young people, coordinated by a youth worker or a youth specialist. 

Youth Worker is a person who, through youth activity, offers support to young people in personal, social and educational development, in order to ensure their better integration into society. 

A youth worker is a person who carries out various activities with young people from the community or with groups of young people without necessarily following a planned or systematic activity. The youth worker may be a youth leader, a volunteer, a person within a youth organisation or any other organisation. 

Youth specialist (in youth work) is a person who received special training in the field of youth work and that provides professional services to young persons. 

The youth specialist realizes a planned, systematic and professional activity in relation to young people or a group of young people within an institutionalized youth service. The youth specialist is based on training in the field of youth work and acts within an institution providing services for young people.

Similarly, youth work (activity for the youth) is a defining element of youth policies/youth work and the field that contributes to the multilateral formation and development of young people. It is based on non-formal learning processes and on the voluntary participation of young people. Youth work carried out at a professional level by a youth specialist within an institution working with young people is called youth services.

The Law on Youth makes a clear distinction between the notions of “youth worker” (on a voluntary basis) and “youth work specialist” (professional, employee). The Law on Youth defines the youth specialist (in youth work) – person who has received a special training in the field of youth work and that provides professional services to young persons. The youth specialist is based on training in the field of youth work and acts within an institution providing services for young people.

Since at the moment there is no formal education for youth workers / youth specialists in Moldova, youth specialists working in youth centres or public administrations are recruited through providing qualification of higher education in education or social areas, experience in working with young people and competences relevant to their job description. This creates differences in payments/salaries that vary from region to region based on the qualifications, status and recruitment position offered by LPAs. 

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Research has made efforts for years to include the youth worker specialist within the Order/Decision nr. 22 from 03/03/2014 regarding the Occupation Classifier from the Republic of Moldova (CORM 006-14) which fits the youth specialists within the Group 2359 –
Education specialists not classified in the previous basic groups (not as academic etc.). 

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Research has advanced the request and necessary documents to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection to include the ”youth worker specialist” function in the Occupations classifier of the Republic of Moldova. Although the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection has accepted the proposal, a final decision has not yet been issued. 

(From the Contribution of Non-programme countries to EU Youth Wiki)