Weather Stays Cold Until January 3
Meteorologists issued bad weather warning for the coming period, with temperatures not exceeding 8 degrees Celsius.
The weather will be getting colder on December 29, and mainly on December 30 and 31, when temperatures will reach –10 degrees Celsius in all regions, mostly in northern and central Romania. The cold weather will linger until January 3.
The wind will blow harder in eastern and south-eastern regions, as well as in mountain areas, but mainly at the seaside where the wind speed will exceed 60-70 km/hour. (Adevarul)
Cold Cuts Sold In Supermarkets Contain Large Quantities Of Sugar, Study Shows
Cold cuts sold in supermarkets contain large quantities of sugar, therefore, they pose health risks to consumers, such as diabetes, obesity and heart diseases, according to a study.
It is well known that over 90% of cold cuts on the market contain a little bit of meat, lots of soy-based vegetal proteins, rind-based gelatine, water, salts plus lots of other substances such as nitrates, as well as lots of sugar. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Banks Must Provide Info To Tax Authority Every Working Day Starting January 1
Banks in Romania are obliged to provide information to the tax authority every working day, starting January 1, 2016.
The respective information includes a list of natural persons, legal entities or any other entities opening or closing bank accounts, as well as identification data of people holding the right of signature for the accounts opened at banks; a list of people leasing cassettes for valuables, as well as the termination of the lease contract, according to a draft order of the president of the National Tax Authority (ANAF) approving the procedure for the provision of such information. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Romania Posts Budget Surplus of 0.76% of GDP in Jan-Nov
Romania’s consolidated budget posted a surplus of 5.3 billion lei (EUR1.17 billion) in January-November, accounting for 0.76% of gross domestic product, from a deficit of RON0.2 billion (0.04% of GDP) in the same period last year, according to finance ministry data.
Revenues to the consolidated budget amounted to RON209.6 billion in the first 11 months of 2015, 7.5% higher in nominal terms compared with the same period in 2014. Income tax collection grew 12.3%, profit tax collection grew 11.9%, and excise duty collection grew 7.5% on the year in January-November. Revenue from the value-added tax grew 10.8%, the data showed. Collections of social security contributions decreased 0.7%, as Romania cut employers’ contributions by five percentage points.
Budget expenditure grew 4.6% in January-November, to RON204.3 billion, with a 11.3% reduction in spending on interests, due to the seasonal nature of payments and lower yields on state paper. (Puterea)
Former PM Says Minimum Wage Should Be Raised To RON1,200 Starting January 1
Former prime minister Victor Ponta said it would be good if the government could raise the minimum wage starting January 1, 2016, adding it would be stupid to raise it starting May 1, 2016.
Ponta said increasing the minimum wage to RON1,200 as of January 1 has no negative impact on the state budget, helps the social security budget through stable additional collections, has no impact on the economic environment, combats black market labor and unfair competition, has no impact on the competitiveness of labor force in comparison with the rest of EU countries because it remains the lowest minimum wage in Europe and it also stimulates consumption and the labor subject to taxes.
Romania’s government has drafted a plan to raise the gross minimum wage to 1,250 lei (around EUR276) from the current RON1,050 as of May 1, 2016, following negotiations with trade unions. (Puterea)