Romanian Minimum Wage Might Reach RON1,600 Under Future Wage Grid – Labor Min

According to estimates of the social democrat minister, with the application of the new wage grid for the public sector, which entails the raising of low wages and freezing of high ones, people who now earn RON600 per month could come to earn up to RON1,500 or RON1,600.

"The law will no longer allow eccentric wages. The minimum wage per economy should reach in four years, namely with the application of the new wage grid for the public sector, 50% of the average wage,” Sarbu said.

He added the main sectors to be considered in the drafting of the single unitary public sector wage law are education, healthcare and public servants without management attributions.

"It’s time we paid more attention to these categories,” the minister said.

The labor minister told MEDIAFAX Wednesday that the new wage grid in the public sector will be applied as of January 1, 2013, adding no other date has been put forth by the government for its enforcement.

He also said the single unitary wage law would be completed this year and would be applied as of January 1, 2010.

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday the government is considering taking responsibility for the single unitary wage law to reduce the time it would take to adopt it by going through Parliament. However, Boc added, the governing coalition hasn’t made such a decision yet.

In the Cabinet meeting held Wednesday, the government approved the general principles to be considered in the drafting of the wage law and decided the draft should be completed by the end of June and the law would be applied within three years.

Boc added high wages in the public sector will be frozen for several years or would be increased by little, while low wages would be raised at a faster pace, to reach a ratio of 1 to 15 between the minimum and maximum salary in the public sector.

Wage bonuses will not exceed 30% of the salary under the general principles approved Wednesday.