Orange Kids: Employer-Driven On-Site Childcare Solutions in Moldova
0-1 Original language
English
I-1 Name of the initiative
Orange Kids: Employer-Driven On-Site Childcare Solutions in Moldova
I-2 Geographical coverage
MDA
I-2-A Region/country
Republic of Moldova
I-2-R Region
Europe and Central Asia
I-2-T Geographical scope
Country
I-3-A Initiative start date
2022
I-3-B Initiative end date
2024
I-4 Leading entity/organization
Employer and Business Membership Organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Workers' organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Private enterprise
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Social and solidarity economy (SSE) entities
I-6 Has the ILO been involved in the initiative?
Yes
I-6-A Specify how the ILO was involved
The ILO provided technical and financial support, through Swedish funding. With ILO support, the Confederation of Employers of Moldova (CNPM) actively engaged its members, informing them about the newly adopted legal provisions and regulations on alternative childcare services, and the benefits of setting up workplace childcare services. CNPMwill continue assisting enterprises in setting up onsite childcare facilities. This support includes financial grants and technical assistance to facilitate licensing, staff recruitment, and curriculum development.
I-7 Is there collaboration with other agencies of the United Nations System or other partners?
No
II-1 Justification of the initiative
Mothers often stay out of the labour market for lack of available, reliable and/or affordable childcare services. In Moldova, only 15 percent of children under three are enrolled in preschool. The lack of childcare options has left 53.6 percent of the population, mainly women aged 25-34, inactive due to family responsibilities, despite their qualifications. To address this, ILO and the Republic of Moldova have been testing new models of childcare facilities that can help women to join or re-join the labour force. As part of the initiative, Moldova has reformed its legal framework, introducing paid paternity and shared parental leave, as well as law and regulations that support alternative childcare options, such as home-based nurseries, individual nannies, and onsite kindergartens in workplaces. These reforms aim to reduce the barriers that keep mothers from returning to work, particularly those aged 25-34, and help increase women’s participation in the labour force. By providing these alternative childcare solutions, Moldova is creating more opportunities for women to balance work and family responsibilities, fostering greater gender equality and economic empowerment.
II-10 Focus on other branches of economic activity
Education
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Small enterprises
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Large enterprises
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Multinational enterprises
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Employees
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Members of producers’ cooperatives
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Contributing family workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Domestic workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Childcare workers (for children ages 0-start of primary school)
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Women
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Men
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Mothers
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Fathers
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Children
II-2 Objectives and description of the initiative
In April 2024, in partnership with the ILO and the National Confederation of Employers of the Republic of Moldova (CNPM), telecommunications operator Orange Moldova launched "Orange Kids"—an on-site childcare facility designed to support its employees.The specific objective of this initiative is to support working parents, reduce economic inactivity among qualified young women, and boost the workforce and economy. The “Orange Kids” on-site childcare facility aims to help parents on parental leave and employees with family responsibilities return to the labour market. Following Moldova’s improvement of its legal and regulatory framework, this initiative aimed at piloting new alternative childcare solutions, and derive lessons and learnings from these.
II-3 Type of initiative
Project / pilot intervention
II-3 Type of initiative
Workplace initiative
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Recognition, reduction and redistribution of unpaid care
II-5 Which is the main policy area of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Care policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Employment policies
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Work-life balance policies and measures, including organization, time and location of work, and other terms and conditions of employment
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Invest in and make available high-quality, affordable, adequate and accessible care services, including childcare, health care and long-term care
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and SSE entities that deliver quality care services
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Unpaid carers (workers or persons with care responsibilities, parents, other family members, etc.)
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Paid care workers (nurses, domestic workers, teachers, childcare workers, personal assistants, etc.)
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Care recipients (children, older persons, persons with disabilities, etc.)
II-9 Geographical scope
Urban
III-1 In a short paragraph, summarize the main results and impacts obtained
"Orange Kids" offers a child-friendly environment tailored to meet the needs of young children, featuring rest and play areas to keep kids engaged in recreational activities while their parents are at work. The childcare facility can accommodate up to 10 children at the same time, meaning that each month, up to 400 children can benefit from this service. Of the 1200 children of the employees, 600 are eligible to spend the time at Orange Kids.Parents indicated that Orange Kids saved them the expense of hiring a nanny, especially since children under two are not accepted at state kindergartens in Moldova.
III-2 Explanation of the innovative element of the initiative for advancing decent work in the care economy
The initiative is supported by multiple stakeholders, including the ILO, the National Confederation of Employers of the Republic of Moldova (CNPM), Orange, and the financial support from Sweden, an innovative collective effort to address the issue of lacking available, reliable and/or affordable childcare services. As the first company in Moldova to implement such a project, Orange Moldova sets a precedent for other businesses. This pioneering effort can inspire similar initiatives across the country, fostering a more supportive work environment for parents. The piloting of “Orange Kids” has provided valuable insights and lessons learned informing a roadmap for future initiatives and highlight the importance of adaptive, context-specific approaches to addressing complex social and economic issues. In fact, the piloting informed a report detailing challenges in the implementation of legal provisions. This detailed monitoring, analysis and documentation of the pilot will be used to inform possible adjustments or expansions of the legal provisions and regulations.
IV-1 What were the main challenges or difficulties during the design and implementation? How were they faced/ addressed?
The pilot project encountered several key challenges, which were addressed through targeted solutions: • Lack of Popularity: Parents were hesitant to use alternative childcare services. Solution: Awareness campaigns and community outreach were implemented to build trust and highlight successful case studies. • Legal Compliance Concerns: Private companies struggled navigating and understanding the complex legal and regulatory requirements for the establishment of childcare services on workplace premises. Solution: The program offered clear guidelines and workshops to help businesses navigate regulations and comply with legal standards.
IV-2 Lessons learned and good practices, including room and opportunities for improvement
Lessons learned: - Providing clear guidance, translating complex laws and regulations, is key to support employers Opportunities for improvement: - Increasing the age limit of children who can benefit from the alternative childcare service at the workplace from 3 to 7 years old (until school age). - Consider expanding the access to these services to the employees that are part of the same corporate group/holding/corporation as the enterprise that established the service. - Find a balance between the necessity of comprehensive and detailed regulations ensuring safety, health and quality services, and their constraining and demotivating effects on the willingness of employers to offer these services.
IV-3 Key conditions for success
- Stakeholder engagement played a crucial role, with regular meetings fostering collaboration and alignment on project objectives. - All the cooperation was based on a tailor-made approach, that assured a successful implementation of the childcare facility.
IV-4 Key conditions for sustainability
To support the long-term implementation of on-site workplace childcare facilities the legal and organizational constraints affecting on-site childcare services will need to be addressed. A report presented to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection identified key regulatory barriers and provided policy recommendations for improvement.
IV-5 Potential for transferability, expansion and replicability in other countries and contexts
This practice can be easily adapted and replicated with strong stakeholder interest and engagement.
V-1 Sources of information and documents used on the characteristics of the initiative, including links to websites, news items, toolkits, policy documents or reports
The first home-based childcare services will be opened with the support of the International Labour Organization and Street Child Moldova, in partnership with AFAM | United Nations in Moldova"Micul Odoraș"--Meet Mariana Grigorenco, the force behind the first home-based day-care for small children in Moldova | International Labour OrganizationThe story of a mother who chose to turn child care into a qualified and legalized activity | United Nations in Moldova
V-2 Contact information of ILO focal point
Laís Wendel Abramo (National Secretary of Care and Family). Email: [email protected]
VI-1 Title and Description
"Micul Odoraș"- Meet Mariana Grigorenco, the force behind the first home-based day-care for small children in MoldovaMariana Grigorenco is an educator with a master's degree in inclusive education. She has experience working with children with special needs, including autism and various disabilities. She loves being around children, and when she learned about the possibility of receiving support from the ILO to set up a family-type daycare at home, she didn't hesitate and signed up.