Romanian health workers begin nationwide strike over salary law and hiring freeze

Romania health strike salary law hiring amendment Sanitas union 2.5 billion lei

A general strike in Romania’s health sector started on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, affecting roughly 400 hospitals and about half a thousand health facilities. The strike, organized by the Sanitas Trade Union Federation, is a response to the new unified salary law and the blockage of new hiring in hospitals. The government says the law will not reduce any public‑sector wages and will raise salaries for more than two‑thirds of health‑care employees, supported by an extra 2.5 billion lei allocated to the sector. An amendment approved by the Health Commission of the Chamber of Deputies will unblock hiring for up to 7,000‑10,000 vacant positions within the approved budget, extending the potential number of posts to around 10 000. Officials, including former Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete and acting Labour Minister Dragoș Pîslaru, have emphasized that no salary will be cut and that emergency services will continue throughout the strike. The Constitutional Court has ruled that employment contracts may be suspended only for the duration of an actual strike, not before it begins.

Entities

Alexandru Rafila · Alexandru Rogobete · Dragoș Pîslaru · Iulian Pope · Romanian Government · Romanian Ministry of Labour · Romanian Parliament · Romanian healthcare system · Romanian salary law for the health sector · Sanitas Federation · Sanitas Trade Union Federation

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] The government allocated an additional 2.5 billion lei for the health sector in relation to the salary law. stiriletransilvaniei.eu
[○ 1 SOURCE] Alexandru Rogobete opposed a 10 % salary cut for medical staff and pledged to keep defending health workers. www.mediafax.ro
[○ 1 SOURCE] SANITAS plans a general strike on 28 July 2026 involving about 400 hospitals.
[DISPUTED] Acting Labour Minister Dragoș Pîslaru said the new salary law will not reduce health‑sector incomes. stiriletransilvaniei.eu · stiri.botosani.ro
[● 2 SOURCES] Dragoș Pîslaru ruled out postponing the salary law, citing lack of budget space. stiriletransilvaniei.eu
[● 3 SOURCES] More than two‑thirds of health‑care employees will receive salary increases under the new law. stiriletransilvaniei.eu · stiri.botosani.ro
[○ 1 SOURCE] Professor Adrian Mitroi criticised the salary law for having many exceptions and no performance criteria.
[○ 1 SOURCE] A study found salary differences up to 1 750 lei per month (≈25 %) between employees with the same role in different hospitals.
[● 4 SOURCES] The hiring amendment was approved by the Health Commission of the Chamber of Deputies. www.europafm.ro · www.bucurestifm.ro · bizbrasov.ro
[● 4 SOURCES] The Sanitas Federation announced a general strike affecting around 400 health units. ratb.ro · www.gorjeanul.ro · ziaruldesalaj.ro · stirileprotv.ro
[● 3 SOURCES] The new salary law provides an additional 2.5 billion lei for the health sector. www.monitoruldevaslui.ro · www.radiocluj.ro · stiriletransilvaniei.eu
[● 4 SOURCES] Parliament will vote on the amendment to allow hiring up to 7,000‑10,000 staff within the approved budget. www.europafm.ro · www.bucurestifm.ro · bizbrasov.ro