Trade unions decided to suspend the general strike started in Romania's education system on May 22 after the government's newest offer to hike teachers' wages. They said, however, that if the "principles included in the emergency ordinance regarding salaries in education are not applied in the text of the new wage law, the strike will be resumed."

The condition to pause the strike is the adoption today of an emergency ordinance that provides that the debutant's salary will not be below the average in the economy and the first salary increase instalment (50% of the wage hike provided for by the new salary law) will be granted from January 1, 2024, according to the announcement.

Shortly after, prime minister Nicolae Ciuca announced that the government would adopt the increases requested by the teachers.

"At this moment, we will adopt the emergency ordinance, there are two of them. One is aimed at ensuring salary increases from the state budget and the other at allocating the necessary funds for professional training," said the prime minister before the government meeting on Monday, quoted by Biziday.ro.

The teachers in Romania went on strike on May 22, demanding higher wages. Several street demonstrations were also held in Bucharest and across the country in the past weeks as the unions and the government failed to agree during negotiations.

irina.marica@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea)