Romania’s Maternal Benefit To Equal 3 Avg Wages – Sources

"We agreed upon a maternity benefit ceiling, and this has been established in principle at three average wages. A final decision will be made in Tuesday’s Government meeting,” the quoted sources said.

“Tonight the Finance Ministry will work out the budget with all ministries (…),” sources said.

Romania will set a maximum ceiling for parental leave according to the funds allocated through the 2009 budget, Labor Minister Marian Sarbu said Monday.

Sarbu said the parental leave should be leveled in case of parents with high income, but mentioned the exact sums will be established following the Cabinet meeting on December 29.

Romanian President Traian Basescu announced end October that parental leave will be equal to 85% of the insured’s average monthly income in 12 months before the claim, but no less than the current level of the benefit, of 600 lei (EUR1-RON3.9964).