The Romanian Government will increase the salaries for all employees in the medical system by 25% starting October 1, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Tuesday.

The Government will adopt an Emergency Ordinance next week. This measure will increase the Government’s annual expenses by some EUR 384 million. Ponta said that the necessary funds for this year are secured.

Marius Sepi, prime vice-president of the Sanitas Federation, said that about 224,000 employees in the system would benefit from the wage increases, and the budget impact will amount to EUR 293 million every year. This increase will be followed by other 25% increases, which should be applied next year and in 2017.

The Federation of Education Unions “Spiru Haret” demanded on Tuesday that the Government provide the same treatment for the employees in education. They threatened with protests.

The Government decided to increase the salaries in the healthcare system after thousands of doctors have threatened to start a general strike. Some 27,000 Romanian doctors have joined a Facebook group where they are discussing about a general strike due to the low salaries, old infrastructure and lack of medicines in the public healthcare system.

editor@romania-insider.com