OREANDA-NEWS. October 04, 2013. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the biggest level of the living wage was registered in Chisinau and Balti, making MDL 1,692.8, 2.9% up as compared with other towns of Moldova (MDL 1,644.5) and 8.3% up as compared with an amount of the living wage recorded in rural areas.

The highest living wage was paid to able-bodied men and made MDL 1,838.5; women were paid MDL 1,553 upon average. The minimal living wage for children averaged MDL 1.533,9 a month, varying between MDL 591.4 for children at the age of up to 1 year and MDL 1,724.2 for children at the age between 7 and 17. In cities of Moldova it was 8.1% more than in villages, the discrepancy in the living wages for babies of up to 1 year making 16.5%. In the reporting period, the Per Head disposable income of the population of Moldova averaged MDL 1,613.5, which was almost equal to the living wage.

The monthly national salary was MDL 3,638.4 in the first 6 months of 2013. The biggest salary- to -living wage ratio was recorded among able-bodied employees of the financial sector and made up 4.3. To compare, salaries paid to employees of the fishing sector were 10% more than the living wage.

The living wage was MDL 1,341.4 for pensioners, being 83.4% of the average national living wage. As of July1, 2013, the pension in Moldova averaged MDL 1,020.8 only, making 76.1% of the average retiree living wage. Te retiree pension covered the living wage by 78.5%.