The list of private companies providing family-friendly spaces is expanding. After Asena and Panilino, Premier Energy Distribution has become the third company to set up a play and learn room for working mothers and fathers with children. The initiative was undertaken with the financial support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Moldova) and Austria as part of a program that aims at expanding the opportunities for mothers and fathers at the workplace.

The management of Premier Energy Distribution, UNFPA representatives, company employees and their children attended the launching event. The parents, together with their children, took part in a painting workshop and drew the family as they see it. 

‘The launch of this playground gives us one more opportunity to interact with our children. We are glad that our management is supporting us in performing our job duties and at the same time helps us be close to our children who, when needed, can be nearby in a safe space,’ said Denis Șestac, employed father.

In the family-friendly space, the company management plans to hold regular interactive events for children and parents, including mothers and fathers on childcare leave, so they can connect and get to know each other better. 

‘People are the driving force of our company. Creating favourable working conditions for Premier Energy Distribution employees is therefore a priority. Starting today, the company's employees will be able to spend more quality time with their children, which will certainly contribute to work productivity,’ said Jose Luis Gomez Pascual, Premier Energy Distribution Country Manager.

The children's area is located in the administrative building in Chișinău and was equipped with chairs and tables for thematic workshops with children and parents, educational games and furniture for baby care. 

The UN Population Fund - UNFPA, by its Demographic Resilience Programme, supports authorities and works with the private sector to empower women and young couples to achieve their reproductive and professional aspirations. ‘Creating family-friendly workplaces is an important step towards maintaining a work-life balance. With such examples, we support women and men to achieve desired number of children, and in the long term we contribute to strengthening the country's demographic resilience,’ said Nelea Rusu, Project Coordinator, UNFPA Moldova.

Premier Energy Distribution currently employs over 700 people, 70% of whom are men, and is one of the five champion companies that have joined the family-friendly workplace policies for 2021-2022. In the spring of 2022, as part of a grant competition conducted by UNFPA, the company received $5,000 in co-funding to implement an employee family-friendly initiative. The company doubled the contribution and created a family-friendly workspace for several months, encouraging employed mothers and fathers to return earlier to work from their parental leave.

Together with champion companies participating in the project, Premier Energy was guided and trained by UNFPA and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova on how to implement the family-friendly workplace model – from reviewing internal policies and practices to tailoring some spaces and programs for employees that allow women and men to successfully combine family life and work.  

The ‘Expanding Choices: Gender-Responsive Family Policies for the Private Sector in the Western Balkans and Moldova’ project is implemented by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), with the support of the Austrian Development Agency, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova.