Romanian Government's New Public‑Sector Wage Law Falls Short of Expectations

Ilie Bolojan, Romania's chief negotiator, warned that the communication surrounding the new public‑employee wage law created expectations among citizens that the current budget cannot satisfy. He said the law, intended to address years of accumulated deficits, must stay within the fiscal limits of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Bolojan noted that public‑sector wage spending already totals 166 billion lei and that projected increases of 7–9 billion lei next year would exceed the allowable deficit reduction path. He emphasized the need for wage indexation but also highlighted that reductions in staff numbers could free funds for larger raises, warning that without reforms the promised wage hikes remain unattainable.