Healthcare workers begin nationwide strike over pay reform in Romania

Update: TheHealth Ministry announced on Tuesday it is closely monitoring medical activity as healthcare workers stage a nationwide strike, adding that it has asked regional public health authorities to immediately report any incidents that could affect patient care. It said it respects employees' constitutional right to strike and remains committed to dialogue with trade unions, describing social dialogue as the basis for finding "real, balanced, and sustainable solutions" for the system.

The ministry also sad it had already submitted proposals for the new pay law, including raising bonuses for emergency on-call shifts from 20% to 30%, introducing a pilot performance-based pay scheme for public healthcare staff, revising hazardous working condition bonuses, adjusting salary coefficients to address existing imbalances, and introducing a transition period for the new pay system. Plus, it initiated a memorandum to unblock the hiring of more than 7,000 positions in public healthcare facilities to help address staff shortages.