What the Minister of Finance says about the problem of postponing or blocking the payment of pensions and wages, after two days of employees protests
The Minister of Finance, Alexandru Nazare, gave Tuesday assurances that there is no question of postponing or blocking the payment of pensions and salaries in the state apparatus, “as, on sources, in the media”, after having a meeting with the representatives of the employees within his ministry, against the public protests.
“We have held a firm and honest discussion today with colleagues from the Ministry of Finance. We are going through a period that requires reduction of the expenses of the budgetary apparatus, and this naturally creates anxiety, but at the same time feeding false alarm,” said the government official, according to a press release issued by the Ministry.
“I understand the pressure that the employees of the ministry and subordinate institutions feel and fully respect the right to protest. But it is essential to all understand that the panic generated by rumors and erroneous information does not reflect reality and does not really help anyone,” added the Minister of Finance.
What Alexandru Nazare still states:
- “I want to emphasize that there is no question of postponing or blocking the payment of pensions and salaries, as it has been carried, on sources, in the media.
- We start from a reality that imposes savings where dysfunctions are found. Romania has a significant budget deficit, which can generate a series of severe consequences, in the chain, if we do not adopt the necessary measures in time. ”
According to the Ministry's statement, Tuesday's dialogue was focused on identifying the solutions for optimizing the wage grids, but also of reducing the unjustified expenses in the budget apparatus. At the same time, the Minister of Finance explained to the representatives of the employees the economic context and the budget constraints.
According to the data transmitted by the Ministry of Finance (MF), in 2024, the expenses with the increases and allowances paid to the employees of their own apparatus and from the institutions subordinated to the ministry amounted to 341.1 million lei.
From this amount, 330.4 million lei were represented by the increase for harmful conditions. In addition, the employees of the Ministry of Finance and subordinate institutions have received only disabled bonuses and allowances for the scientific title of doctor.
“The message is a clear one: we prioritize the performance in the budget apparatus and we have zero tolerance for the irresponsible spending of the public money. We go to a fair pay system, which will ensure all the employees in the public system that the performance is correct. To the employees of the Ministry of Finance, of ANAF and of the other institutions, people who constitute the spine of the public administration in Romania.
Protests of employees from Finance and Fisc
Employees of the institutions of ANAF, Treasury, the National Anti -Fraud Directorate and the Ministry of Finance protested spontaneously on Tuesday, for the second day against bonus cuts, according to the Sed Lex Finance Union, and threatened to trigger the general strike.
VIDEO. Wave of protests after cutting the bonuses. At Finance, the employees went to the office of the Minister Nazare. “The situation is really serious” / employees from ANAF, treasury and clerks protested too
According to the images broadcast by the news television, dozens of the institution went in front of the office of Minister Alexandru Nazare, who spoke with them.
Employees have claimed that the fiscal measures regarding the cutting of bonuses disadvantage them. They also claimed that the applications in the ministry system work with difficulty and said that if the fiscal measures, such as reducing the increases granted to the budgetary sector, will refuse to work.
Finance unions say they can block Romania: “Eventually we will not come to work, on the day when salaries, pensions are given”
It was the second day of employees in Finance, after, on Monday, several branches of the National Agency for Fiscal Administration spontaneously protested in front of institutions against reducing several increases.
The emergency ordinance for establishing measures regarding the personnel paid from public funds, which sets the amount of the increase for dangerous or harmful conditions at 300 lei monthly, was published on Monday evening, after being adopted by the Bolojan Government.
The provisions of the ordinance enter into force starting July 1, 2025 and applies until December 31, 2026.
“In relation to the working conditions in which the activity is carried out, dangerous or harmful conditions, the pay person can receive an increase in the amount of up to 300 lei monthly, corresponding to the time worked at the respective jobs, in compliance with the provisions related to force,” the GEO provides in MO.
Also, starting with the date of entry into force of the ordinance, the employees of the public administration, from the autonomous regions with special specificity, and from the budgetary units, which perform heavy, dangerous or harmful work or work in jobs in which there are such conditions, established according to Law no. Dangerous, they are entitled every calendar year to an additional rest leave, with a period between 3 and 5 working days, according to Agerpres.
