The governing coalition in Romania starts discussions on the draft budget for 2024
Romania’s ruling coalition parties began discussions on Thursday on the draft budget for 2024. The budget will be based on a much lower deficit target than in 2023 and will also have to take into account the future pension law. According to Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, pensions were to increase in two stages in 2024, once on 1 January by 13.8% in relation to the inflation rate, and a second time on 1 September, through recalculation. The draft budget will also take into account the single pay reform, which the Romanian finance minister said would be based on the principle of „equal pay for equal work”. The government adopted on Thursday a memorandum drafted by the finance ministry, containing a list of significant public investment projects on which next year’s budget will be built.
Health insurance company’s employees in Romania launched an indefinite strike
Protests are taking place in Romania by employees of all health insurance colmpanies. Employees are unhappy that their salaries have not been increased for six years and have stopped working with the public indefinitely, which could disrupt services for patients. The pay rise does not depend on the management of the National Health Insurance House (CNAS), but on Romanian Parliament, where a legislative initiative has been on the table for some time, but has remained blocked in the Chamber of Deputies, said the president of the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS), Dumitru Costin, who represents the unionists. „This time they will no longer process anything that has to do with the public: i.e. the insured, public and private service providers and, last but not least, employers who have claims related to sick leave and their processing, recognition and payment,” Dumitru Costin said. The Romanian official added that the necessary funds are available for salary increases for employees in all health insurance companies.
Romania assigned 250 million euros to help young farmers set up in business
Romania’s Ministry of Agriculture is making more than 250 million euros available for setting up young farmers. Starting from Thursday, potential beneficiaries can submit applications for funding via the official website of the Rural Investment Funding Agency (AFIR), afir.ro, where they will find information on the necessary documents. The available funds include separate allocations for the national component and for the mountain area. The application period is open until 31 January next year, saiys a press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Magda Baciu
