Business #15 Legislative focus

A legislative proposal initiated by AUR MPs, which aimed to reduce the standard retirement age based on night work performed, was rejected by the Senate as the first chamber. The bill suggests that for every cumulative 24 hours of actual night work performed, employees would receive a one-day reduction in the retirement age, with a minimum retirement threshold set at 60 years. The debate now moves to the decisional forum – Chamber of Deputies.

The measure would have significantly increased long-term labor and pension-related costs for employers in night-shift dependent sectors. It would also have required companies to implement detailed tracking systems for night hours across fragmented shifts, adding administrative burden and compliance complexity.

No operational changes are required at this stage. Employers should continue applying current labor and pension rules for night work and monitor developments in the Chamber of Deputies, particularly if similar initiatives are reintroduced or modified.

The Senate has also rejected a legislative initiative which sought to recognize volunteering as contributory work seniority. The proposal would have allowed volunteering performed in the field of completed studies to be counted as non-contributory work seniority, provided it lasted at least one year. Currently, under existing volunteering legislation, volunteer activity is recognized as professional experience but is not considered formal work seniority. In this case as well, the deputies now have the final saying on this matter.

If adopted, the measure would increase administrative complexity for employers by broadening the categories of recognized work experience. It could also have created inconsistencies in evaluating professional seniority across candidates, increasing compliance and documentation checks for companies.

No changes are required for now. Employers should continue applying existing rules when assessing seniority and experience in recruitment and internal HR policies, while monitoring any future attempts to redefine recognized work seniority.

USR MPs are proposing a unified digital framework for public administration services through a single mobile application (AMU – Unified Mobile Application) and a central government web portal. The initiative requires public authorities to provide fully digital, interoperable services for both individuals and companies. Authorities will be obliged to reuse existing data already held by the state and eliminate repeated document requests. Services will also be reorganized around real-life “events” such as starting a business or changing company details.

Businesses would gain a single digital entry point for most administrative procedures, including authentication, submissions, payments, and document retrieval, significantly reducing administrative burden.

If the bill is approved, companies should prepare for a shift toward fully digital interactions with public authorities and ensure internal readiness for centralized online procedures.