Romania Works On New Education Law
Romania’s Education Minister Sorin Campeanu said the ministry he runs is working on a new education law, which may be ready by the end of the year.
Campeanu also said there is no point amending the current education law, as required by several student organizations.
The minister added that the new law will be the result of wide consultations with students, professors, employers and unions in the education system. (Romania Libera)
Brokers Association Says Dividend Tax Will Affect Capital Market
The association of brokers thinks that keeping taxes on dividend payments hurts the capital market.
Also, investment revenues will be subject to health insurance contributions and such a move prevents people from investing.
Although the Tax Code initially stipulated an exemption from the payment of income tax on dividends, the Senate decided that dividends will be taxed 5%. (Romania Libera)
Average Net Salary In Romania Up 5.7% In March
The average salary in Romania rose 5.7% in March to 1,829 lei (around 415 euros) from RON1,731 in the previous month, according to data from the statistics bureau.
The gross average salary was up 5.6% on the month to RON2,529, the data showed.
Staff in the tobacco industry received the biggest paychecks in February, of RON5,799 on average. At the opposite end, hotel and restaurant employees received the lowest monthly salaries, of RON995. (Romania Libera)
PM: Romania Will Stick To Deficit Target Despite EC Forecast
Romania will meet its budget deficit target for next year, Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Thursday, rejecting a European Commission warning that planned tax cuts would propel the shortfall to 3.5 percent of economic output.
Ponta has rolled out proposals for sweeping tax cuts between June and 2019, including a sharp reduction in value added tax for food products, in an effort to fight tax evasion and spur economic growth and private consumption.
But the proposals have been questioned by Romania’s fiscal watchdog as well as the International Monetary Fund and the Commission, which have warned the government not to endanger recent years of deficit cuts.
The Commission forecast Romania’s economy would grow 3.3 percent next year, but that the fiscal deficit would swell to 3.5 percent of GDP, driven by cuts in excise and value added taxes and by scrapping dividend and special building levies. Ponta welcomed the growth forecast but not the deficit one. (Adevarul)
Ponta Says His Cabinet Holds On To Power No Matter What Opposition Liberals Do
Victor Ponta, Romania’s Prime Minister and head of the Social Democratic Party PSD, said his Cabinet will keep going no matter what opposition liberals do.
Ponta said the Government has fulfilled 90% of the commitments undertaken three years ago, adding he is convinced the opposition cannot change his Cabinet. Ponta referred to anticorruption prosecutors whom he sees a lot stronger than political rivals. (Puterea)