Unionist Propose 40 Minimum Wage Standards, One For Each Economic Sector

05.20.2011 By Bostan Radu

Romania's labor union confederations on Friday suggested dividing the economy into 39 sectors, meaning there could be 40 minimum wage standards – one for each private sector plus the public sector.

"Cartel Alfa" confederation vice-president Petru Dandea said Friday, after the meeting of the social dialog committee at the Labor Ministry, that the confederations have proposed a model dividing the economy into 39 sectors. He added that the first sector contracts might be signed this autumn, after the ministry and employers' organizations have analyzed the proposal.

Adrian Izvoranu, general secretary of the Alliance of Romanian Employers' Confederations, said the European Union has 40 economic sectors, while the International Labor Organization has 21 sectors.

According to him, Romania's largest economic sector is commerce, with around 700,000 employees, while the smallest sector has around 35,000 employees.

Romania currently has two minimum wage standards: 670 lei (EUR163), proposed by the Government, and RON710, provided by the single national collective labor contract. (EUR1=RON4.1091)