Romania’s new unified pay law sparks fierce opposition from judges, healthcare workers, and the military as the government races to finalize reforms before parliamentary review.
The draft legislation, published by the Ministry of Labour, would slash salaries for magistrates, cap earnings for healthcare professionals, and reduce compensation for top military officers below that of lawmakers, according to simulations and official reactions. The Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) warns the law "will definitively undermine the functioning of justice," with entry-level judges facing "unacceptable" pay cuts and senior magistrates losing income if promoted. Healthcare unions under the SANITAS federation call the proposal "unfair, incomplete, and deeply disadvantageous," threatening protests at the Labour Ministry on Thursday after claiming over half of public health workers will see pay freezes or reductions .
Defence Minister Radu Miruță acknowledges the "high expectations" among military personnel and pledges to amend the draft to protect their incomes, while the Ministry of National Defence confirms it is reviewing the proposal to submit revisions . The law aims to standardize public-sector pay by increasing base salaries while reforming bonuses, but critics argue the changes disproportionately target high-earning professions. Judges, police, and teachers would see base pay rises, but total gross earnings may fall due to reduced allowances .
Interim Labour Minister Dragoș Pîslar defends the rushed timeline, blaming unions for failing to pressure previous governments to act. "I didn’t want to tackle pay reform in three weeks, but this was avoided for years," he said, urging unions to reflect on their past inaction . The government’s fiscal constraints add urgency: Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare highlights a sharp reduction in the budget deficit to 1.17% of GDP in early 2026, down from 2.92% a year earlier, achieved through spending controls and increased EU fund absorption .
The draft law, which must pass parliament before taking effect in 2027, faces legal challenges from the CSM and potential strikes in healthcare and education. The government has not yet released final salary tables, but internal simulations suggest deep divisions between sectors, with military and judicial pay at risk of falling while teachers and police see modest gains.
Government's unified pay law sparks protests from judges, healthcare workers