An expected decision in the meeting on Monday, December 30, is the setting of the date of the presidential elections. The ruling coalition agreed that the first round of the presidential election would be on March 23, while the second round could be held on April 6.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu Photo: Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea
Also included on the work agenda is the “train ordinance” project, which intends to reduce the budget deficit: freezing the pensions and salaries of budget workers, less money for medical leave, but also for student transportation.
According to the draft ordinance, in the year 2025, starting on January 1, the gross amount of basic salaries/position balances/position salaries/monthly placement allowances benefiting from staff paid from public funds freezes at the same level as is granted for the month of November 2024.
Also, as in recent years, overtime is not paid, but additional days off will be granted. The exception is military personnel, police officers, including those in prisons and mountain rescuers. If it cannot be compensated with time off within 90 days, they will be paid a salary increase based on that income.
As for holiday vouchers, public institutions can grant them in the amount of 800 lei, between January 1 and December 31, 2025, to staff whose net basic salaries from the month prior to granting them are up to 8,000 lei. The holiday vouchers issued during the year 2025 are used for the payment of no more than 50% of the value of the purchased tourist service packages, respectively 800 lei for the purchase of tourist service packages worth at least 1,600 lei, the draft ordinance also provides.
Also, the filling of vacant positions by competition or examination is suspended starting from January 1, 2025, with the exception of single vacant positions. The provisions do not apply to positions whose occupation has already been approved by the Government by memorandum until the date of entry into force of this emergency ordinance, to the residency admission competition, to health units with beds for the occupation of doctor positions, as well as to vacant positions related to projects with financing from non-refundable external funds and paid from European funds for which financing contracts are concluded.
Child benefits will no longer increase in 2025, i.e. they will no longer be indexed to the average annual rate of inflation.
The special pensions of judges and prosecutors are not updated with the average annual rate of inflation. The same applies to clerks and other categories of personnel who hold specialized positions in the courts. The special pensions of deputies and senators, professional civil aeronautical personnel from civil aviation in Romania, members of the Diplomatic Consular Corps, those from the Court of Accounts, as well as military ones are no longer updated with the inflation rate.
Instead, the special pensions for mayors and heads of county councils are postponed until 2026, including the positions of vice mayor and vice president of the county council).
The reinstatement of the construction tax is also desired. The tax is calculated by applying a rate of 1.5% on the value of existing constructions in the taxpayers’ patrimony on December 31 of the previous year, including in the situation where they are rented, taken under administration/concession or in use. The tax is paid in two equal installments, until May 25 inclusive and September 25 inclusive.
