Romania unveils public sector pay reform with 4,100 lei reference salary from 2026

The Romanian Ministry of Labor has published a new draft law on the salary of public sector employees, setting a reference salary of 4,100 lei and introducing coefficients from 1 to 8 for different positions. The law is expected to come into effect on December 1, 2026.
The new law will affect 1.2 million public sector employees and includes provisions for gradual salary increases for dignitaries over the next four years. Mayors and county council presidents involved in European projects will be eligible for bonuses up to 40%. The law ensures that no public sector salaries will decrease.
The draft law has been published after consultations with trade unions and institutions. It will apply to employees in the Parliament, Presidential Administration, Government, ministries, local administration, judiciary, educational institutions, hospitals, and defense and public order structures. The National Bank of Romania (BNR) is exempt from the application of this law.
The law also includes provisions for the protection of salaries that would decrease after the application of the new grids. If an employee's salary is currently above the new grid, it will be frozen until the grid catches up. Similarly, if an employee's allowances decrease significantly, their salary will be frozen to prevent a loss of income.
Political parties have a few days to propose modifications before a new meeting at Cotroceni, the presidential palace. The law is part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
According to sources, there are expectations of salary increases in some sectors, such as education and auxiliary judicial staff. However, there are also concerns about the correctness of the current salary grids and the potential impact on public sector employees.
The Ministry of Labor has stated that the law is designed to ensure fair compensation for public sector employees while also aligning with the country's economic goals. The law is expected to be approved by Parliament in the coming weeks.
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