Government: Increased salaries for artists and local public administration, higher wages for pension

The Government approved on Friday, a series of fiscal-budgetary measures provided for in the Governing Programme 2017-2020, through which it increases salaries for some personnel categories in the budgetary sector, student financial aid, pensions in the public system and social benefits for pensioners. 

According to an Emergency Ordinance (OUG) approved by the Executive, wage growth will be applied starting with February 1st, reads a press release of the Government sent to AGERPRES. 

"Staff paid from public funds in public institutions and authorities of the local public administration benefit from a 20 percent increase as compared to the level granted in January 2017 of the gross quantum of base wages/allowances, as well as of the quantum of supplements, allowances and all the other elements of the wage system that are part of the gross wage, in so far as the respective personnel deploys its activities in the same circumstances. The measure does not apply to personnel occupying elected public officials of the local public authorities.," reads the press release. 

The OUG also establishes that, starting with July 1, the value of one pension point will be increased by 9 percent, and will be of 1,000 RON. 

Furthermore, starting with March 1, the level of the minimum social pension will increase to 520 RON. 

Furthermore, the financing of wages of personal assistants for persons with severe disabilities or the monthly indemnities of persons with severe disabilities will be ensured fully from the state budget, from sums distributed from the VAT, on the basis of the number of beneficiaries communicated by the territorial administrative units. Until now, the financing was ensured up to 90 percent from the state budget, the release says. 

Another measure set down by the normative act says that students enrolled in normal classes with an accredited higher-education institution will receive fare-free travel by train in all types of train, in second-class carriages.