Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu warned on Thursday the Government employees “who are protesting claiming that they work too much for 1000 or so euros per month” and are dissatisfied with the 10% increase in salaries.
“I think that both at the Government and at the Parliament, we can find solutions for more flexible personnel structures. From the savings made, the salaries of those who deserve it can then be increased”, stated Ciolacu.
The Prime Minister announced at the beginning of the Government meeting that today the emergency ordinance will be approved by which salary increases of 10% will be granted compared to the level of December 2023, in two installments, respectively for June and September 2024 (when elections take place) for several budget officers including those from Culture, Diplomacy, the Government Apparatus or town halls with up to 20,000 inhabitants.
“We approve a 10% salary increase in two installments, June and September, for several categories of employees in the central and local administration. We are talking in particular about employees in culture, from the Trade Register, environmental agencies and officials in town halls with less than 20,000 inhabitants. There are areas lagging behind in salary compared to the rest of the budget workers, and it was right to make a decision in relation to what the country’s finances allow this year”, he declared.
PM also warned public employees unhappy with this increase of only 10%. “I saw that there is dissatisfaction with this increase, considered too small. Even in the Government, there are employees who protest claiming that they work too much for 1000 or so euros per month! I think that both at the Government and at the Parliament, we can find solutions for more flexible personnel structures. From the savings made, the salaries of those who deserve it can then be increased. And the outstanding ministries must complete the reorganization by June 30, in order to reduce the number of budget officers, as has happened every month this year,” said Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
New spontaneous protest on Thursday by Government employees
The employees of the Government’s work apparatus announced on Thursday that they are starting a spontaneous protest with the cessation of activity, today, starting at 10.45, dissatisfied with the staged 10% increase in salaries. Government employees on Wednesday expressed their dissatisfaction with the salary increase prepared by Ciolacu through a protest with umbrellas on which there are messages such as: “10% is not enough” or “it is raining with inequities”. They have not stopped their work, but they have announced since last night that they will continue the Japanese strike that started last Friday.
The reaction of the Government Employees’ Union comes after the Ministry of Labor published on Tuesday evening in public debate a draft emergency ordinance that will grant wage increases of 10% reported at the level of December 2023, in two installments, respectively for June and September 2024 (when elections are held) for several budget officers including those from Culture, Diplomacy, the Government Apparatus or from town halls with up to 20,000 inhabitants.