Dozens Of Romanian Teachers Protest Over Decision To Keep Wages Frozen In 2012

Federation of Free Unions in Education (FSLI) representatives said about 70 teachers gathered outside the institution and the number of protesters is expected to increase.

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday adopted Government Emergency Ordinance 80/2010, which includes amendments by the Committee for budget, that stipulate public sector salaries and state pensions will be frozen next year.

Some of the amendments were submitted by Finance Minister Gheorghe Ialomitianu. One says the gross value of base salaries or military pay will be kept at the December 2011 level throughout 2012. Another amendment filed by the minister says no aid or compensation is to be paid in 2012 for retirement or employment termination.

The Chamber of Deputies was the deciding house for this act.

The International Monetary Fund agrees with salary and pension raises in the second half of 2012, budget resources allowing, but this does not guarantee such a decision would be made by Romania’s Government.

President Traian Basescu reaffirmed recently, after a meeting with the official delegation of the IMF, EU and World Bank, that pensions and public sector wages would certainly not be reduced next year.