Moldovan Railways (CFM) workers are threatening to hold up Ukrainian grain transit. They are losing their patience over the CFM’s failure to pay out wages. In an act of protest, the workers are saying that they plan to target their neighbour’s exports.
CFM has failed to pay wages to its employees since July last year. The salary question reached the highest political echelons, but no one took any measures to resolve the situation. That is, until recently. CFM is getting a new general director with support from both the trade unions and the government. Together with financial help from the state, railway workers should be getting their wages again soon.
“Soon” is the key word, because CFM still has not paid out any wages as of late March. The total wage debt has exceeded 10 million euros. Understandably, the company’s employees are out of patience. They are now threatening to block railways, specifically in order to stop Ukrainian grain exports. In addition, they are now demanding compensation for the nine months without pay and a minimum wage increase to 283 euros.
Ukrainian grain
Interestingly, the primary underlying reason for the financial crisis at CFM is the disappearance of Ukrainian grain from the Moldovan network. The rail operator had plenty of business to tend to when Ukrainian maritime exports through Odesa were impossible. However, with the successful defense of the port, maritime exports resumed and rail diversions through Moldova dried up.
As of February 2025, eighty per cent of Ukrainian grain exports go through the Odesa port. The remaining 20 per cent still make their way through the EU’s so-called Solidarity Lanes, including through Moldova.