Young entrepreneurs are feeling significant pressure generated by tax increases, economic volatility and rising energy and services prices, and an additional increase in the minimum wage, without a compensatory fiscal plan, risks directly affecting startups, micro-enterprises and companies in the early stages of development, claim representatives of the Young Entrepreneurs' Federation of Romania (PTIR).
According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday, PTIR expresses its concern over plans to increase the minimum wage in the economy starting January 1, 2026.
"Young entrepreneurs are currently experiencing significant pressure on operational costs, generated by tax increases, economic volatility and the general increase in energy and services prices. In this context, an additional increase in the minimum wage, without a compensatory fiscal plan, risks directly affecting startups, micro-enterprises and companies in the early stages of development, precisely the segments that generate innovation, jobs and added value in the economy," said the president of the Romanian Young Entrepreneurs' Confederation (PTIR), Daniel Urîtu, quoted in the press release.
Thus, young entrepreneurs are not opposed to the increase in income, but are demanding that it be sustainable. In the current context, where costs and taxation are increasing, measures are needed to support both the employee and the employer.
The survey conducted by IMM (SME) Romania between October 10 and 15, 2025, with 2,017 respondents, highlights some aspects. Thus, almost two-thirds of entrepreneurs (63.9%) do not support the increase in the gross minimum wage nationwide from January 1, 2026, and more than half of enterprises (51.3%) support the increase in the minimum wage starting with January 1, 2027.
Approximately 84.7% of entrepreneurs support the reduction of the salary tax by 5 percentage points, as a way to increase income for employees, and 53.5% of respondents mention that an increase in the gross minimum wage nationwide will cause the price of products and services of Romanian enterprises to increase, which will lead to a loss of competitiveness.
At the same time, 50.5% of entrepreneurs declare that they will have to lay off staff in the event of an increase in the gross minimum wage.
Therefore, PTIR joins the IMM Romania initiative and proposes freezing the gross minimum wage at the current level of 4,050 lei until December 31, 2026 and asks the Government to reduce labour taxation by at least 5 percentage points and to maintain deductibility for low incomes.
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