Press Review - February 2, 2018

02.02.2018 By Oana Gavrila

Health Minister Says Regional Hospitals Are Her Priority

Health minister Sorina Pintea said the construction of three regional hospitals is her priority, adding delays are due to unrealistic projects and feasibility studies.

The ministry seeks to build three regional emergency hospitals in Iasi, Craiova, and Cluj-Napoca.

Labor Minister Says 3% of Public Sector Workers Will Have Lower Salaries

Romanian labor minister Olguta Vasilescu said Thursday 3% of public sector employees will have lower salaries under the new wage law, adding the head of state's salary will be 40% lower.

“We need to raise salaries gradually for around 60% of public sector employees by 2020. But at the top of the chain, 3% of public sector employees will have lower salaries,” she said on TV station Antena 3.

Constitutional Court Deems Bill Amending Law On National Integrity Agency Lawful

Romania’s Constitutional Court on Thursday ruled that the bill amending the law on the National Integrity Agency (ANI) is lawful.

The bill amending the law on ANI stipulates that lawmakers on whom the Agency noted their failure to observe the legal provisions on conflict of interest between 2007 and 2013 will no longer be subjected to a three-year election ban, which applies after someone is found incompatible, in conflict of interest or with undeclared assets.

The Court ruled that bill only removes the ban’s effects for the future and not the past and said that bans with legal effects currently taking place will no longer continue once the bill is signed into law.

Finance Ministry Seeks to Simplify Tax Form 600

The finance ministry is working to simplify tax form 600 for social security contributions owed by taxpayers with income other than salaries.

The government on Wednesday postponed the submission term of the form to April 15 instead of the previous January 31.

The ministry expects to simplify the procedure by March 1.

Government Control Body Checks Bucharest Airports

The Transport Ministry has required the government control body to check on the Bucharest Airports Company after the Henri Coanda Otopeni International Airport was left without guard and cleaning services starting Thursday.

Airport cleaning services had been provided by Romprest starting 2001, under several services contracts but the latest contract has not been extended, as many passengers have complained about the services over the years.

The airport company is now looking to hire cleaning staff for a one-month period until a new cleaning services contract takes effect.