According to the minister, the increase might be applied at the end of the year, depending on figures.
In 2010, the Government led by Prime Minister Emil Boc cut child-rearing benefits by 15%, to 65% of the parent’s salary.
Staring January 2011, mothers can choose to stay on maternity leave for two years and receive a monthly benefit of 600 to 1,200 lei (EUR133 – EUR267), or they can stay on maternity leave for just one year and get a monthly child rearing benefit of up to RON3,400.
Mothers who choose to return to work before the end of one year’s maternity leave receive a monthly benefit of RON500 until the end of the two-year period they could have spent on leave. (EUR1=RON4.4834)