10.06.2021

ROMANIA FORBIDS OFFICIALS FROM TAKING BOTH A PENSION AND A SALARY

The Romanian government has approved a bill banning the combination of a pension with a salary in the public sector, local media reported.

"At the same time, the project envisions raising the retirement age to 70 at will," said Romanian Prime Minister Florin Katsu. He specified that the bill will enter the parliament with an urgent procedure.

The normative act provides for the possibility to choose between a pension or a salary for the employees in the public sector who fulfill the conditions for retirement. If they are already retired but want to continue working in the state system, then their pension will be suspended. Also, employees in the public sector are not obliged to retire when they reach the standard retirement age, but can continue to work until the age of 70.

"They can retire at any time in the period up to the age of 70. In the public sector, the pension cannot be combined with a salary. Employees have the obligation to choose between the two within 30 days," explained Labor Minister Raluka Turkan. Romania has no money to raise pensions.

Gigi24 TV notes that there are a number of exceptions to the rule that prohibits the accumulation of pensions and salaries. These are local elected officials, parliamentarians, members of the Constitutional Court and the National Audit Office, members of the Romanian Academy and others.