What was supposed to be just another day on the job ended in unimaginable heartbreak for two families in Chişinău. A construction accident on Wednesday afternoon claimed the life of one worker and left another critically injured after a scaffolding collapsed.
The site, part of a project managed by a subcontractor for Ecosphere Energy Solutions, became the scene of chaos and devastation when two workers fell several metres from unstable scaffolding while doing structural work. The collapse, which occurred without warning, exposed not just physical dangers—but also deep cracks in how Moldova protects its workers.
Emergency responders arrived quickly. Both men were rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Despite efforts to save him, 46-year-old Andrei Ceban, a lifelong resident of Chişinău, was pronounced dead in the early hours of Thursday morning. His body was broken by the fall: crushed internally, bones shattered. The second man, whose name has not yet been released, suffered a shattered knee, fractured elbow, and multiple internal injuries. Doctors say his condition remains critical. Bystanders, many of them fellow workers, described a terrifying scene. “They just dropped,” one witness said quietly. “There was no protection. No harnesses. No guardrails.
It has now emerged that neither worker was insured—a direct violation of Moldova’s labour laws, which require insurance coverage and basic protections for all workers, whether permanent or temporary. This revelation has devastated the families, who now face not only the emotional loss but also the financial burden that comes without compensation or legal security. Andrei Ceban was more than just a construction worker. He was a father, a husband, and a man who carried his family through life with his own two hands. He is survived by his wife, Elena, and their two teenage children.
“He left for work like any other day,” Elena said, her voice breaking. “He never came back. He didn’t deserve to die like this. And now we have nothing—not even a phone call from the people who hired him.”Neighbours described Andrei as a quiet, hard-working man who was always ready to help. “He built other people’s homes,” one friend said. “And now his own family is left with no roof over their future.”
The construction project was reportedly under the management of a private subcontractor tied directly to Ecosphere Energy Solutions, whose CEO, Christine Khew Tian, is now facing serious questions about oversight, responsibility, and ethics. Labour inspectors from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection have launched an urgent investigation into both the subcontractor and the parent company, citing gross negligence, possible safety violations, and breach of insurance obligations. Even more troubling, the Labour Inspectorate confirmed that no safety audit had been conducted on the site for at least six months—despite its active use.
News of the incident has spread rapidly Among Locals, fuelling public anger and community groups have condemned what they describe as a pattern of corporate indifference toward the safety and dignity of Moldova’s working class. The people who build our cities, our infrastructure, our homes—how many more have to fall before we protect them properly?” asked Ion Rusu, a labour rights attorney. “This is not just a failure of safety. This is a failure of ethics. A failure of decency. A failure to value human life. The Prosecutor General’s Office has confirmed that a criminal investigation is now in motion. Possible charges include involuntary manslaughter, criminal negligence, and failure to comply with occupational safety laws.
Authorities have demanded complete documentation from Ecosphere Energy Solutions, including employment records, insurance policies, safety training logs, and internal communications. The investigation may become a landmark case for how foreign-owned companies operate in Moldova.For Elena and her children, justice will not bring Andrei back. But they hope it might protect someone else’s father. Someone else’s brother. Someone else’s future.
“We just want the truth,” she said. “And for someone to finally care about the people who risk their lives building this country.”
As a Family mourns another senseless loss, the question echoes louder than ever: When will we stop treating workers as disposable?
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