Romania's President convenes leaders for urgent salary law talks

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has called for urgent consultations with leaders of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), National Liberal Party (PNL), Save Romania Union (USR), and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) at Cotroceni Palace. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday at 4:00 PM, focuses on the draft of the unified salary law, a piece of legislation deemed essential for fulfilling a critical benchmark within Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

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This is the last chance for the unified salary law. Today we enter the final stretch to meet a critical PNRR benchmark related to the salary law, the fulfillment of which would unlock 770 million euros for investments.

The consultations occur at a decisive moment for finalizing the reform. Interim Minister of Labor, Dragan Pîslaru, warned that this is the final week to secure political consensus for the law's adoption and promulgation before the PNRR deadline. "This is the last chance for the unified salary law. Today we enter the final stretch to meet a critical PNRR benchmark related to the salary law, the fulfillment of which would unlock 770 million euros for investments," Pîslaru stated on Facebook.

He emphasized that this is likely the last week for political agreement to ensure the law is adopted and enacted before the August 31 PNRR deadline. The adoption of the new salary law is a key reform commitment under the PNRR, and its successful implementation would release a tranche of 770 million euros designated for investments.

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This is likely the last week for political agreement to ensure the law is adopted and enacted before the August 31 PNRR deadline.

Proposed changes include revisions to bonuses, salary coefficients, and the classification of TESA (Technical, Administrative, and Service Staff) in the healthcare sector, with the minister claiming these will bring salary benefits to the entire system. In education, the draft improves the hourly payment mechanism, modifies leadership allowances, and includes a phased implementation plan for salary increases starting in 2028. Pîslaru urged political leaders, unions, and public sector employees to support the reform, noting it is the result of recent negotiations.

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A message important for all medical and support staff – already in the healthcare sector, we have over 75% increases in total salary income.