Romania raises statutory minimum wage to 4,325 lei effective July 1, 2026

Effective 1 July 2026 Romania’s statutory minimum wage rises from 4,050 lei to 4,325 lei gross per month (25,949 lei per hour), a 6.8% increase that translates to a net rise of 125 lei, reaching 2,699 lei after the 200 lei tax deduction. The change applies to all employees covered by the national minimum, affecting roughly 1.76 million workers according to the Ministry of Labour.

Employers must update contracts and register the new rates in the REGES‑Online system within 20 working days, with non‑compliance punishable by fines ranging from 300 lei to 8,000 lei depending on the breach. The measure also eliminates a separate agricultural minimum, aligning that sector with the general level.

The National Trade Union Confederation (BNS) has criticised the timing, noting the increase was delayed six months and that rising inflation has eroded real wages by over 13 % since 2025. BNS is calling for the minimum wage to be raised to 5,000 lei gross from 1 January 2027 to restore purchasing power.