The wages of public employees will increase in stages until 2022, and the ratio between the lowest and the highest salary will be 1 to 13, with bonuses of up to 30%.

The lowest wage will reach RON 1,625 (EUR 360.1) whereas the highest salary will total RON 21,540 (EUR 4,770), according to the measures that will be introduced in the new law on public sector salaries, reports local Profit.ro.

The salaries of senior officials will be frozen, as a "gesture of solidarity", according to an official document.

According to the labor minister, the President will have the highest salary, but the Prime Minister’s wage will drop by RON 300 (EUR 66.4) compared to the current level. The estimated budget for applying the law was estimated at RON 19.5 billion (EUR 4.3 billion).

Doctors, IT experts, and the holders of other public offices that are hard to be filled will receive a bonus of 30% to their base salaries plus an extra 5% for performance. The Government thus hopes to keep these people from leaving to work in the private sector.

The average increase in public salaries by 2022 will reach 37.3%, in line with the economic growth forecast. The total public wage spending should reach RON 80 billion in 2022, up from RON 58 billion this year. The wage expenses will be 7.5% of the GDP.

editor@romania-insider.com