Romanian Teachers’ Wages To See 9% Hike – Min

“Basic wages in education will see a 9% increase as of October 1. This is possible because indices such as increased gross domestic product and labor productivity have been observed. According to Government Ordinance 15/2008, the 9% wage hike was provisioned by the observance of these indices. Otherwise, the increase would have been of 6%, identical to the first raise granted on April 1,” a statement of the ministry said.

The Economy Ministry sent a document informing the Education Ministry that all economic conditions have been fulfilled to allow the 9% increase of the minimum wages for the staff in the education system.

The Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved end September an ordinance stipulating a 50% hike of teachers’ wages. The Government took the law to the Constitutional Court, but the court ruled the law was legitimate.

Teachers protested in October in Bucharest, displeased with the Government’s decision to take the decision to court.

The money needed to increase teachers’ wages was not included in the 2009 state budget draft, which the Government will approve next week.

Wednesday, Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu sent a letter to president Traian Basescu, which contains extra data Basescu had requested on the economic impact of hiking teachers’ wages and increasing pensions for the first two labor categories.

The head of state has not promulgated the law yet.