Florin Manole: The pay law is not a priority in the coming months

Adopting the new unified pay law is not a priority for the coming months and is, in principle, planned for 2027, Labor Minister Florin Manole said in an interview with Digi24. The official said the bill cannot be adopted within one or two months, as the Government must first focus on the budget revision and preparations for the 2027 budget.

Decisions regarding the new law depend on the evolution of public finances, measures concerning pensions, allowances and other social benefits, as well as Romania’s commitments to the European Commission to keep the deficit under control. The minister indicated that the legislation could be adopted at the beginning of 2027 and implemented from 2028, or could benefit from a budget revision in the second half of next year.

Budget documentation projects wage expenditure of 166 billion lei in 2026 and 174 billion lei in 2027. Florin Manole stressed, however, that these estimates do not represent a commitment to increasing expenditure on public-sector personnel. Before the pay law, the Government has other priorities as well, including protecting vulnerable consumers and adopting the related legislation.