Romania Cannot Raise Public Sector Wages – Fin Min

„My message for those who protest over furlough is that the issue will be solved Friday. On the other hand, I want to tell those who want bigger salaries there are no means for that. We cannot raise salaries,” Vladescu said Tuesday.

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said last week the Government will approve during a meeting this Friday a measure to extend furlough in 2010.

About 45,000 Romanian public administration employees were on a two-hour warning strike Tuesday over wage cuts and planned layoffs in the public sector. Protests are expected to continue with an indefinite full-blow strike planned to start on February 12 if the Government turns a blind eye on the public administration unionists’ requests to increase small salaries and give up layoff plans.