Minimum Wage Frozen in 2026 – Impact on Pensioners and the Elderly

The government led by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has decided to keep the national minimum wage at its current level of 4,050 RON gross for 2026, despite pressure from trade unions and rising inflation over the past two years.

This decision has significant implications for families in which older relatives depend on financial support from younger members. Many elderly people rely on contributions from children or grandchildren earning the minimum wage to supplement their modest pensions or cover the rising costs of medication and medical care.

Trade unions proposed two alternative scenarios to protect employees' purchasing power:

• Raising the wage to 4,350 RON gross whilst reducing the tax relief from 300 to 200 RON
• Increasing it to 4,500 RON gross should the tax relief be abolished entirely

Labour representatives argue that compliance with the EU directive — which sets the minimum income at 47–52% of the national average wage — is essential to maintaining a decent standard of living. This measure could bring approximately 2 billion RON into the state budget.

For older people receiving home care or living in residential care homes, the wage freeze may mean mounting financial pressure on families, who must cover the continually rising costs of care and medical services.

The government's decision comes at a time when inflation has reached its highest level in two years, eroding purchasing power and directly affecting access to essential services for elderly people.