Romania: National minimum gross base salary increase

On 16 December 2019, new provisions regarding the minimum gross salary guaranteed at national level were announced in the Romanian Official Gazette.

Government Decision no. 935/2019 on establishing a minimum gross salary guaranteed at national level will increase the minimum gross monthly salary from RON 2,080 (approx. EUR 435) to RON 2,230 (approx. EUR 447) for an average full-time schedule of 167.333 hours, not including bonuses or other additional payments. The corresponding minimum gross hourly amount is RON 13.327 (approx. EUR 2.78).

The provisions regarding the minimum gross salary for employees with at least one year of experience in a field requiring higher education remain the same. For such employees, the minimum gross monthly salary guaranteed at national level is RON 2,350 (approx. EUR 500) for an average full-time schedule of 167.333 hours, not including bonuses or other additional payments.

According to the Labour Code, employers who pay a lower minimum gross base salary are to be sanctioned with administrative fines ranging from RON 300 (approx. EUR 65) to RON 2,000 (approx. EUR 431). Repeated violation of the minimum gross salary law constitutes a criminal offence sanctioned with imprisonment of one month to one year or a criminal fine.

The above-mentioned changes will become effective on 1 January 2020.