Romanian PM Seeks Parliament’s Confidence Vote To Pass New Labor Code

Prime Minster Emil Boc told lawmakers the new Labor Code is tailored to the will of the ruling coalition and serves the interests of people willing to work, not unions.

Boc said the Labor Code eases the creation of jobs and makes the labor market more flexible.

„The Labor Code serves people willing to work and doesn’t give unions more power,” Boc said.

Emil Boc: „Antonescu este, rămâne şi va fi candidatul coaliţiei. Are parte de susţinerea lui Ilie Bolojan”

14:27, 12 Feb. 2025

He added the opposition’s motion of no-confidence over the Labor Code is unlikely to be adopted. Boc’s government has survived several votes of no-confidence the opposition initiated over austerity measures.

The Government on Monday evening approved only eight amendments to the Labor Code out of the 144 proposed by the ruling coalition’s MPs, including one that says people who have been collectively laid off will be given preference in case the employer decides to rehire within 45 days.

The new version of the Code eliminates a provision whereby the employer may unilaterally drop a contract’s non-compete clause and stop paying a non-compete benefit to the employee with at least 30 days notice.

The Government also changed the article on collective bargaining to say „the parties, their representation and the process of negotiation and signing of collective work contracts shall be set in accordance with the law.” It initially read that negotiation and signing will be subject to a special law.

Another amendment provides a fine between 1,500 and 3,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.2065) for missing records on the number of hours put in by every employee and for hiring an employee without a medical certificate.

Other amendments provide the legal framework for labor unions, federations and confederations, as well as employers’ associations.