Romanian Union Confederacies Partially Agree With Unitary Wage Law

„Cartel Alfa” president Bogdan Hossu said after talks with labor and finance ministers Marian Sarbu and Gheorghe Pogea and with employers that he agrees with the government’s intention to take responsibility for the unitary wage law, but the normative act should include an amendment according to which after six months since enactment the government will make corrections, which would remove current dysfunctions.

Hossu said he does not believe the minimum wage should be different from quotient 1 in the law.

„we are displeased with the policy on the minimum wage, which should be the basis for the draft law. We cannot continue to have two minimum wages on economy. We hope the minimum wage will be equal to the basic quotient in the salary grid,” Hossu said.

The „Cartel Alfa” leader believes he can convince the public sector employees who announced strikes for October 5 to give up this form of protest.

The alliance of public sector employees, which includes 11 federations, does not agree with the current format of the law and maintains the protest calendar.

At the same time, employer representatives agree with the current form of the law and added the economy cannot currently sustain a RON705 minimum wage starting with January 1.

Before the meeting at the Ministry of Labor, prime minister Emil Boc met with ministers Marian Sarbu and Gheorghe Pogea to discuss the draft unitary wage law for the public system.

According to official sources, the government maintains its decision to take responsibility for the law pack that includes the unitary wage law, regardless of the protests announced Thursday by unions.