Strongly promoted by the former holder of the labour
\noffice, the Social Democrat Lia Olguta Vasilescu, and supported by the majority
\nformed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and
\nDemocrats, the new pension bill was endorsed by the Senate on Monday. With 81
\nvotes for, 12 against and 8 abstentions, the bill passed without any serious
\namendments as compared to what the Government had proposed. Gradually
\nincreasing the pension point in the coming three years, reducing the retirement
\nage for the so-called first and second labour categories and taking into
\nconsideration master’s and doctoral degrees in calculating the pension are some
\nof the provisions of the new law. The minimum pension contribution period
\nremains 15 years. One amendment promoted by the Democratic Union of Ethnic
\nHungarians and accepted by the majority provides for the possibility, but not
\nthe requirement, of early retirement for mothers of three or more children.
\nSenators members of the National Liberal Party, the main opposition party in
\nRomania, say that the new law ‘creates false illusions for pensioners and does
\nnot materialize them’, because the actual increase will take place no sooner
\nthan 2022, and maybe even later. Dissatisfied by the fact that their amendments
\nwere not accepted, the Liberals voted against the bill. Here is the Liberal
\nSenator Marcel Vela:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
I voted against also because the
\namendment that would have ensured support for pensioners in areas affected and polluted
\nby mining exploitations or steel factories was not taken into consideration,
\nand pensioners in this category were not given the chance to be able to retire
\ntwo years sooner.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Also in the opposition, the Save Romania Union
\nabstained from voting, and said the imperfections of the law should be
\ncorrected. We believe that Romanians’ pensions are too low and they must be
\nincreased, but this law should have also cancelled special pensions, Save
\nRomania Union Senator Vlad Alexandrescu said. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
On the other side, the Social Democrat Senators have
\nstressed repeatedly that the law will meet the needs presented by pensioner
\nassociations and are meant to correct disparities in the system. The Social
\nDemocrat Senator Ion Rotaru responded to criticism voiced by the opposition:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
You voted against the minimum pension.
\nYou did not agree that, in case of pensioner’s death, the remaining spouse
\nshould have a second option, besides 51% of the pension, which would be an
\nadditional 25% help. You voted against many things.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The new Labour Minister Marius Budai has given
\nassurances that all increases provided in the bill are financially sustainable.
\nHe has stated that ministry experts, together with specialists from the finance
\nministry, have carried out the necessary simulations, and their conclusion was
\nthat the budget can cover all additional expenditure entailed by the new law.
\nThe bill will next go to the Chamber of Deputies, which is the decision-making
\nchamber in this matter. <\/p>\n
\n
\n(Translated by M. Ignatescu)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Romanian Senate has adopted the pension bill, drafted by the leftist majority<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":105,"featured_media":79715,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37738],"tags":[35544,31408,34259,39518,29957,29346,29987],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-79714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-today-in-the-news","tag-marcel-vela","tag-national-minimum-wage","tag-pension-law","tag-pension-point","tag-romanian-senate","tag-social-democratic-party","tag-vlad-alexandrescu"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n