25.09.2020

They are raising pensions in Romania by 40%

Romanian lawmakers have approved a 40 per cent increase in pensions, thwarting the centrist minority government's intention to secure a smaller but steady increase of 14 per cent, Reuters reported.

Parliament approved a 40 per cent increase with 242 votes to 148, a ruling party lawmaker told the agency. Eleven deputies abstained.

The opposition Social Democrats, who were in power until November last year and remain the largest group in parliament, announced last year a huge increase in pensions from September 1 and a doubling of child benefits, the agency reminds.

Currently, the minimum pension in Romania is 145 euros and the average is 270 euros.

The planned new pensions next year are projected to cost the treasury 24.8 billion lei or more than 5 billion euros. For comparison, the minimum pension in Bulgaria is BGN 250.