Romania’s Chamber of Deputies voted yesterday a 10% salary hike for all state employees, starting December 1 this year.

Some 311 deputies voted for this increase, 7 abstained from the vote, and only one voted against, reports local Mediafax.

The wage hike was introduced on Tuesday by the Social Democratic Party as an amendment to the law which approved the Government Emergency Ordinance to increase the salaries in the public healthcare sector by 25%, which came into force on October 1. According to this amendment, all public employees that haven’t benefited from wage increases through other Government or Parliament decisions, should get a 10% salary increase starting December 1 this year.

The impact on the state budget hasn’t been determined, but Labor Minister Rovana Plumb said this would increase the state’s personnel expenses by some EUR 337 million.

The National Liberal Party (PNL), which initially opposed this amendment due to the negative impact on the state budget, changed their mind and voted for the wage increase.

“We have come to the conclusion that our vote on this project was essential, which is why PNL voted for this law,” said Alina Gorghiu, co-president of PNL.

She added that the new Government should make an impact study to see if the amendment was feasible.

President Klaus Iohannis has to sign the law to make it effective. The President, who asked the Parliament to reconsider the amplitude of the fiscal relaxation measures earlier this year, could also send the law back to the Parliament for review.

editor@romania-insider.com