According to the draft government resolution submitted for public discussion by the Ministry of Labor, from October 1, 2023, the minimum gross salary in the country, which is guaranteed in payment, will increase from 3,000 lei per month to 3,300 lei per month. Currently, the minimum wage in the economy is 3,000 lei gross.

• “Starting from October 1, 2023, the minimum basic wage in each country, which is guaranteed in payment, provided for in Article 164 paragraph (1) of Law No. 53/2003 – Labor Code, reissued, with subsequent amendments and additions, shall be set in money, excluding allowances and other allowances, in the amount of 3,300 lei per month, for a normal working schedule of an average of 165,333 hours per month, which is 19.96 lei/hour,” the draft regulation states.

More than 1.86 million lei will be received from the increase of the minimum basic salary

The explanatory note notes that in Romania, around 1.5 million workers currently receive the guaranteed minimum gross wage, which is approximately 28% of the total number of active workers.

• SEE FOUNDATION NOTE

1,867,588 workers will receive an increase in the minimum basic salary by 3,300 lei.

The explanation is that some workers have a minimum salary of 3,000 to 3,300 lei and they also benefit from this increase.

The increase in the minimum wage in construction is more expected – Explanation of the Ministry of Labor

The draft regulation does not say anything about raising the minimum wage, for example, in construction, since the new fiscal measures will affect workers in this industry.

“The minimum wage in construction with a different tax regime, which is an amendment to the Fiscal Code introduced by GEO 168/2002, will be established by a draft law for which the government will take responsibility in parliament.” – claim Ministry of Labor officials.

The problem with the minimum wage in the following sectors: construction, agriculture and food industry

About 800,000 people work in construction, agriculture, and the food industry. They have certain benefits: that is, they do not pay income tax, health care contributions and, if they wish, a level II pension.

In construction, the minimum salary is currently 4,000 lei. The government wants to force companies to pay these workers a 10% health contribution, believing that they are benefiting from the services.

At the same time, an increase in the minimum wage to 4,500 lei gross is being discussed. This would mean taking 3,094 instead of the 3,150 lei they have now.

In agriculture and the food industry, it is not yet clear how much the minimum wage will be raised. Now they have 3,000 lei gross (2,362 lei on hand), with the same benefits, and they want to reintroduce CASS payment.