Romanian Govt Accepts 5 Amendments To Austerity Laws

All five amendments were submitted by ruling coalition representatives, and four of them apply to the expenditure cut law.

The law on cutting budget expenses now states that the 25% wage cutback will also apply to the employees of lawmakers' offices and to members of the Medical Science Academy. Also, the final text of the law establishes the minimum social pension rate at 350 lei (EUR1=RON4.2051).

Wage, pension and social benefit cuts will be enforced after the completion of confidence vote procedures, and will not affect public sector wages for June, as announced initially. According to Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc, the process will be concluded by the end of June.

The only approved amendment to the pension law was submitted by the democrat liberals and stipulates that disability pension checkups will take place over the course of one year, instead of three. Approximately 20 amendments were submitted to the pension law.

The Government will seek a confidence vote in Parliament to swiftly adopt a two-law austerity plan that cuts wages, pensions and social welfare benefits. Confidence vote procedures will be followed by two no-confidence motions, drafted by opposition social democrats and endorsed by the liberals.

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