Romania: Court orders pension recalculation for worker amid special pension debate

A court in Iași has ruled in favor of a former railway safety employee, Cornel Nedelcu, regarding his pension calculations. The Iași Tribunal determined that nearly 35 years of activity, spanning from April 1, 1991, to February 17, 2026, must be recognized as work performed under special conditions. Consequently, the Iași County Pension House is required to issue a new pension decision and pay outstanding rights, adjusted for inflation, along with interest and legal costs.

In a broader context regarding the Romanian pension system, data reveals significant disparities between special and contributory pensions. Magistrates receive an average special pension of 25,682 lei, of which approximately 18,000 lei is a state-funded bonus for which they did not contribute. In contrast, the average pension for ordinary citizens remains at 2,821 lei. Recent government reforms aim to cap magistrate pensions at 75% of their last salary and gradually increase the retirement age, though these measures apply to future cases.