Romanian court clerks challenge 500‑lei glasses reimbursement cap

The National Union of Judicial Clerks (SNGJ) has lodged a complaint with the European Commission, arguing that Romania's recent ordinance limiting reimbursement for work‑related glasses to 500 lei violates EU occupational health and safety rules that require full coverage. The union says a pair of prescription glasses with special lenses can cost up to 4,000 lei, and the 500‑lei ceiling, introduced by Ordinance no. 53/2024 and Government Decision no. 64/2025, shifts the financial burden onto public‑sector employees.

The union, led by clerk Cătălin Trăistaru, claims the measure breaches Directive 90/270/EEC, transposed into Romanian law in 2006, which obliges employers to bear the full cost of corrective devices needed for screen work. The case has been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a ruling on the alleged breach of EU law.