gift vouchers

The Romanian government amended Wednesday the emergency ordinance banning the granting of gift vouchers to public sector employees, allowing vouchers to be distributed with approved budget limits, labor minister Paul Pacuraru told MEDIAFAX.

Unions of teachers in Romania’s capital city Bucharest sent an open letter to Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu Wednesday saying the ban on granting gift vouchers creates discrimination on religious criteria.

Teodor Melescanu, vice-president of Romania’s National Liberal Party (PNL) said, referring to the conclusions of the report drawn up by economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian, that gift vouchers can be granted by the institutions whose budgets include funds earmarked for this purpose.

Romanian teachers will receive an average RON160 raise starting April 1 to compensate for the decision by which the government decided to no longer grant gift vouchers to public sector employees, finance minister Varujan Vosganian said Thursday.

Teachers in pre-university education in Romania’s capital city of Bucharest went on go-slow strike Thursday protesting against the government’s decision to suspend the granting of gift vouchers.