December 13 (SeeNews) - The Romanian government raised the minimum monthly wage by 28% to 500 lei ($207/142 euro), effective in January, and is considering another hike as of mid-2008.
"If the inflation is maintained in the projected lines, economic growth and productivity rise are as estimated, there is a possibility for a hike of the value of the minimum gross wage to 540 lei,” Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu was quoted as saying in a statement released by his cabinet's press office late on Wednesday.
Currently, the minimum wage in Romania is 390 lei . The average net wage in EU newcomer Romania rose by a nominal 4.2% month-on-month to 1,084 lei in October.
The cabinet endorsed in October the 2008 budget draft envisaging a projected growth of the gross domestic product by a real 6.5% and an inflation of 3.8%.
(1 euro = 3.5247 Romanian lei)