Last updated: 6 January 2022
Starting with January 1, 2022, the minimum gross salary at the national level increased from 2,300 Lei per month (approximately 464 €) to 2,550 Lei per month (approximately 515 €) for a full-time job of 167.333 hours per month, namely 15.238 Lei per hour (approximately 3 €), according to the Government Decision no. 1071/2021.
In the construction field, according to the GEO no. 114/2017, the minimum gross salary is 3,000 Lei per month (approximately 606 €).
The basic minimum gross salary at the national level is defined as the lowest basic salary that an employee may be granted under an individual labour agreement, for a full-time job. Establishing a basic salary under the rate provided by the Decision mentioned hereinabove represents a violation of the law and shall be punished by a fine between 300 Lei and 2,000 Lei.
In addition, according to art. 164 of the Labor Code as amended by GEO no 130 and 142/2021, starting with January 1, 2022, the minimum gross salary can be applied for an employee (hired after January 1, 2022) for a period of maximum 24 months from the conclusion of the employment contract.
At the end of this period, the employer must increase the gross basic salary, but the law does not provide any mandatory amount of the salary increase.
This rule also applies to employees who already have the basic gross minimum wage and who already have an employment contract, but the 24-month period remains calculated from January 1st , 2022.
The increase to a basic gross wage above the minimum wage at the country level must then be made within 24 months, i.e. from January 1, 2024.
Consequently, the gross salaries inferior to the legal threshold received by full-time employees must be increased to 2,550 Lei, starting with January 1, 2022. Given that this amendment is imposed by the law, in accordance with article 17 paragraph 5 of the Labour Code, concluding an addendum to the labour agreement is not compulsory.