Romanian Govt To Postpone Teachers’ Pay Hike Until Yearend – Sources

The government considered Wednesday to postpone the enforcement of Law 221/2008, which raises teachers’ wages by an average 35%, until a new law, regulating wages across the entire public sector, becomes effective at the beginning of next year, the sources said.

The future law will have a base salary and salary charts valid for all public sector employees, and the increase of about 35% will no longer be applicable and staff in the education sector will get a lower wage hike than that set by Law 221/2008, the sources said.

Government sources told MEDIAFAX Wednesday the government considered in the cabinet meeting pushing back for December 31 the date for the first round of teaching staff salary increases, worth one third of the hike decided by the former government.

"The salary increase in education will be regulated in this interval through the single salary law in the public sector," the sources said.

The government later reconsidered and decided to push the date back until May, to discuss with unions.

Romania’s former government decided in November 2008, through an emergency decree, that the salaries of teachers will be gradually increased by up to 28%, in two rounds, respectively on March 1 and on September 1, 2009.

On the other hand, the current Executive decided that salaries in the public sector will be increased by 5% this year, in two rounds, 3% in April and 2% in October. Prime Minister Emil Boc said employees in education will also receive a 5% salary increase, plus additional sums based on the unfolding of reforms and restructuring in the system.