The government on Tuesday approved an emergency regulation that sets a new minimum wage to apply from November 1 in the construction, agriculture and food industries, so that the minimum wage does not affect workers after the introduction of the health care contribution (CASS).

The normative act adopted by the Government established new minimum wage rates in construction, agriculture and food industry, which will be applied starting with the income for November.

In the construction sector, the minimum gross salary will be 4,582 lei, and in agriculture and the food industry, the minimum gross salary will be 3,436 lei.

Currently, the minimum gross salary in construction is 4,000 lei, and in agriculture and food industry – 3,000 lei.

How many workers were affected by the minimum wage increase in these sectors / Net wages remain the same

These values ​​were established by the government through consultation with trade unions and employers, the Tripartite National Council and social dialogue.

According to estimates, 423,110 workers will receive an increase in the minimum wage in construction, and 168,000 workers in the agricultural sector and food industry, the Government noted.

The net minimum wage in these areas remains frozen / This will affect those with incomes above the minimum wage

HotNews.ro previously reported that workers in the construction, agriculture and food industries will feel the tax measures from November 1, 2023: fewer minimum wage earners will see higher amounts on gross only.

These regions were exempted from income tax, health care contribution and, optionally, II level pensions for salaries up to 10,000 lei.

Starting November 1, these possibilities are limited in the sense that the contribution for medical care (10%) will be paid by employees (Law 296/2023 published in the Official Gazette).

Some workers receive minimum wage. Currently salaries are 4,000 lei in construction and 3,000 lei in agriculture and food industry, but from November 1 they will be increased to 4,582 and 3,436 lei respectively.

Growth depends on the amount, not on what a person takes in his hands.

Therefore, salaries are increased only on paper, because in practice these workers will receive amounts similar to the current ones: 3,150 lei in construction and 2,362 lei in agriculture and food industry.

The state will earn 321.4 million lei from them in November and December and 3.85 billion lei in 2024.

On the other hand, those who receive wages above the minimum will have their wages cut.

Two examples:

1. The average accrued salary in August (latest data) in the construction industry amounted to almost 6,000 lei gross. Suppose that a person was paid such an amount, that is, he had 4725 lei in his hands.

From November 1, he will receive 4,125 lei, that is, 600 lei less.

2. In agriculture, the average gross salary was about 5,500 lei gross, which means that the employee paid the received amount of 4,331 lei. From November 1, he will receive 3,781 lei, that is, 550 lei less.

So in theory these salaries will decrease. But given the labor shortage, most likely these costs will be borne by construction, agriculture and food industries, and we will see them in the market later. For example, in the increase in the price of labor. It remains to be seen.

• Read the details: Which of the workers will lose their wages from November 1 / Minimum wages in construction and agriculture remain frozen