Last updated: 12 June 2024
The minimum basic gross salary at the national level will increase from 1 July 2024, rising from 3,300 lei (approx. €663) to 3,700 lei per month (approx. €744) for a monthly working time of 168 hours, which equates to 22.024 lei (€4.43) per hour.
This minimum salary, set by Government Decision no. 598/2024, does not include allowances, bonuses, and other benefits that employees may receive.
The increase in the minimum basic gross salary also applies to the agriculture and food industry sectors, where a gross minimum base salary of 3,436 lei was set according to Emergency Ordinance no. 93/2023.
The change in the minimum basic gross salary does not affect the minimum salary for employees in the construction sector, which is 4,582 lei per month (approx. €921), according to Emergency Ordinance no. 93/2023, equating to an hourly wage of 27.714 lei (€5.57). This special minimum salary applies exclusively to the activities mentioned in Article 60, point 5 of the Fiscal Code.
Any infringement by employers of the provisions relating to the minimum wage is deemed a contravention and is subject to the penalties provided under Article 260, paragraph (1), letter a) of Law no. 53/2003 (fine amounting to between 300 and 2,000 lei).
It is also worth noting that according to Article 164 of the Labour Code, as amended by Government Emergency Ordinance no. 142/2021, since 1 January 2022, the gross minimum salary can be granted to an employee (hired after 1 January 2022) for a maximum period of 24 months.
Upon expiration of this period, the employer is required to increase the gross base salary, without the law specifying a mandatory minimum amount to be respected in this latter case.
As this is a modification imposed by law (increase in the minimum salary), according to Article 17, paragraph 5 of the Labour Code, it is not mandatory to conclude an addendum to the employment contract.