Unified Pay Scale Law, in Parliament
Once it has been discussed and endorsed in Parliament, the unified pay scale law will take effect on July 1.
Leyla Cheamil, 10.04.2017, 13:37
Just weeks after the unions negotiated with the Labour Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu, the bill on the unified pay scale in the public sector has reached the Parliament of Romania, for debates and endorsement. Eagerly awaited by many Romanians, the document stipulates an average increase of monthly incomes by over 50% in the next 5 years. Total pay rises will amount to 7 billion euros.
PM Sorin Grindeanu announced that talks with trade unions and other stakeholders would continue in Parliament, in order to shorten the time needed for the bill to be endorsed: “The importance of this law and the deadline that we set for this in our governing programme, namely by the end of the second quarter, made us table this text in its current form in Parliament.”
The draft law, which is scheduled to come into force on July 1, targets all public institutions, except for the National Bank of Romania and the Financial Supervision Authority. The Labour Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu said the first pay rises would be operated in the police and military sector: “The basic pay of military personnel will be raised by 20%. The basic pay of police workers will go up by 5%. On January 1, 2018, full salary increases will be operated for physicians and nurses. The basic salaries for teaching staff will increase by 50% as against December 2017. Basic salaries for the civil service staff in public institutions and local administration will be increased as of January 1, 2018.”
Some unions challenge the bill on the unified pay scale in the public sector. The National Federation of Police and Interior Ministry Trade Unions demanded the resignation of the Labour Minister, after the latter announced that police salaries would only be raised by 5%, whereas the rank benefits for military personnel would go up 20%. The unionists argue that the bill drafted by the Labour Minister generates discontent, confusion and tensions among police workers, who feel discriminated against and want their work to be appreciated in the same manner.
The highest salary in the public sector will be paid to the president of the country and will account for 12 national minimum wages. The salaries of top civil servants will drop, but those of the MPs, judges and prosecutors will be raised.
(Translated by Ana Maria Popescu)
