Last updated: 18 December 2024
The minimum basic gross salary at the national level will increase January 1, 2025, rising from 3,700 lei (approx. €744) to 4,050 lei per month (approx. €814) for a monthly working time of 165.334 hours, which equates to 24.496 lei (€4.92) per hour. This minimum salary, set by Government Decision no. 1506/2024, does not include allowances, bonuses, and other benefits that employees may receive.
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 ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 lei – aprox. €600 to €1,000 - for each individual for whom non-compliance with these legal provisions has been identified, without exceeding a total cumulative amount of 200,000 lei.
It is also worth noting that according to Article 164 paragraph (8) of the Labor Code, the gross minimum salary can be granted to an employee 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 Labor Code, it is not mandatory to conclude an addendum to the employment contract.