In addition, according to Dragoi, a five percentage point reduction in the social security contributions would mean a budget effort of RON2.3 billion in the last seven months of the year.
Previously, the dignitary said the government plans to increase salaries, but with an eye on maintaining the deficit target for this year, namely 1.9% of the gross domestic product. As such, any surplus will depend on economic growth.
Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday in Parliament that solutions need to be found by June 1, to restore public sector wages, which had been slashed during the crisis.
Two days prior, Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu said the government is looking at ways to reduce healthcare contributions by 3% to 5%, should the economic situation allow it.
After a 25% reduction of salaries in 2010, public sector employees received a 15% pay increase last year. Right now, public sector wages would need another 16% increase to return to initial levels. (EUR1=RON4.3545)