Union consultations and Manole's invitation

On Saturday, former labour minister Florin Manole (PSD) began a series of meetings with trade unions from health, education, and other public sectors to discuss the government's draft salary law. During a press briefing at Parliament, Manole said he had invited Siegfried Mureșan, the PNL-USR-UDMR proposal for prime minister, to join the talks. He then added a sarcastic note.

“Surely he's not on the beach, surely he's not on weekend and is working somewhere, maybe he'll find time to come here.”

Manole later told reporters he found it hard to believe Mureșan was on holiday "drinking a coffee", suggesting a future premier should be engaged. The consultations are scheduled to run through Sunday, covering all occupational families, with a view to reaching a conclusion by Monday. Manole said the draft was received only an hour before his first statements, and discussions so far have focused on the health sector grid, not on the pay scale for dignitaries.

Mureșan's retort

Siegfried Mureșan, a PNL MEP, responded on Facebook the same day, denying he had received a genuine invitation. He said he would have attended gladly if invited and noted that the European Parliament was still in session, unlike the PSD colleagues of Manole who are on parliamentary recess. Mureșan then turned the criticism back on Manole's record as minister.

“Like a failing student who didn't study all year, he hopes to fix at the last moment what he didn't do all year.”

Mureșan pointed out that Manole had a full year as labour minister to table a salary law but failed to do so. He added that the Bolojan Government has since drafted the bill, so Manole's task now is simply to convince his PSD colleagues to return from holiday and approve it.

PSD's red lines

Manole made clear that the Social Democrats will not support any version of the law that reduces the incomes of public sector employees. He stressed that the party's primary objective is to ensure no worker loses out and to address as many pay inequities as possible with limited budget resources.

“We cannot vote for a law that cuts incomes. It would be a problem if the salary law is not adopted, but it would be an even bigger problem if it is adopted and we have a general strike in health, education, or public order.”

He said the party wants to attract all possible PNRR funds but will not accept a law that triggers social unrest. Manole also noted that the EU funds bonus for mayors currently stands at 40% and would not represent an increase if kept at that level.

The PNRR deadline and next steps

The salary law is a milestone under Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Mureșan underlined that 770 million euros in EU funds are contingent on its adoption, along with the promise of a fairer system for honest public servants.

“The stake is high: 770 million euros from the PNRR and a fairer law for honest people in the public sector.”

Union feedback is being collected throughout the weekend, and Manole said he expects to have a consolidated position by Monday. A meeting at Cotroceni Palace is tentatively set for Tuesday, where the government and political parties will attempt to reconcile the draft with social demands.