Government Passes Decree To Allow Increase Of State Child Allowances

According to Labor Ministry officials, the decree modifies the child allowances bill, raising it to RON150 per month for children aged 2-18, as well as for those over 18 who are attending high schools or professional schools until they finish their studies.

Children of up to two years of age, as well as all children under the age of 18 with disabilities will receive an increased sum of RON300.

The measure could be applied starting with March, if President Klaus Iohannis decides to enact the budget during the current month.

The increase was surprisingly passed during Parliament budget debates last week as an amendment of the opposition Liberal Party voted by several rebel ruling coalition MPs, despite being opposed by the coalition.

It was included in the final budget project approved by lawmakers last Friday, which led to a bigger budget deficit target for the year.

The 2019 state budget is currently analyzed by President Klaus Iohannis, who will have the last say on its enactment. The president publicly criticized the budget for being built on overly-positive income predictions.