PM Ponta Says Education Staff Wages Must Also Be Raised
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said Wednesday that the wages of employees in the education sector must also be raised.
Ponta also said the 25% increase in the wages of staff in the public healthcare sector must ‘go hand in hand’ with reforms in the medical system.
The prime minister urged Labor Minister Rovana Plumb to come up with a solution for social work assistants as well, ‘whose activity is as important as that of the public healthcare staff.”
Romania’s government approved an emergency ordinance Wednesday raising wages of staff in the public healthcare sector by 25% as of October 1. (Puterea)
Romania Posts Budget Surplus of 1.06% of GDP in Jan-July
Romania’s consolidated budget posted a surplus of 7.41 billion lei (EUR1.67 billion) in January-July, from a deficit of RON1 billion in the same period last year, Finance Ministry data showed Wednesday.
The budget surplus for January-July accounts for 1.06% of the gross domestic product estimated for the whole year.
Revenues in January-July grew 9.9% on the year, to RON132.8 billion. Tax revenues rose 11.8%, to RON81.7 billion, with notable growth in collections from the profit tax (10.7%), and the income tax (13.3%).
Revenue from the value added tax, the most important single tax for Romania’s budget as it accounts for a quarter of total revenue, grew 15.5% in the first seven months, despite a cut of the tax rate for food products as of June. Starting June 1, the VAT rate for food is 9% from a previous rate of 24%. Non-tax revenues increased 18.1% in January-July, to RON12.5 billion, and incoming EU-funding rose 52.4%, to RON5.3 billion. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Overdue Loans Fell To RON23.17B In January-July, BNR Data Show
The volume of overdue loans in Romania banking system fell to 23.17 billion lei (EUR5.27 billion) in the first seven months of 2015, according to central bank data.
The total amount of bad loans is 6.6% lower than in the same period a year before.
Considering that the total loan balance rose 0.65% to RON214.7 billion (EUR48.8 billion), the weight of bad loans in overall loans shrank to 10.8% at the end of July 2015, from 11.6% in December last year.
The largest debtors, in terms of the weight of overdue loans in total loans, are the economic operators and households in the counties of Valcea, Giurgiu and Salaj. (Adevarul)
Romania Approves 25% Wage Raise For Healthcare Staff
Romania’s government approved an emergency ordinance Wednesday raising wages of staff in the public healthcare sector by 25% as of October 1.
“The Government approved this measure to motivate staff in the public healthcare sector and curb the migration of doctors to jobs abroad,” the Cabinet said in a press release.
The bill also raises various bonuses in the system and the payment of interns by 25%.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta said last week the raise will benefit around 181,000 people under the authority of the Ministry of Health and local public authorities and over 13,000 employees in ministries which have their own separate healthcare networks. He also said the wage raises will have an impact of RON1.7 billion on the state budget and funding for this year was ensured. (Romania Libera)
Former Journalist Laura Chiriac Appointed State Adviser To PM Ponta
Former journalist Laura Chiriac has been appointed state adviser to Prime Minister Victor Ponta, with attributions in the field of social policies.
“Prime Minister Victor Ponta signed a decision appointing Mrs. Laura Corina Basoc (Chiriac) as state adviser, with attributions in the field of social policies. Laura Chiriac has vast experience in mass-media in Romania, having worked for Radio France International, AFP, Realitatea TV and Romania TV,” the government’s press office said in a statement. (Adevarul)