Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for measure RO-2021-1/1700 – measures in Romania
Country | Romania , applies nationwide |
Time period | Open ended, started on 01 January 2021 |
Context | COVID-19 |
Type | Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Category |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
– Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
Author | Victoria Stoiciu (European Institute of Romania) |
Measure added | 11 January 2021 (updated 10 August 2021) |
The increase of teleworking due to COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increase of expenditure for many employees working from home, who use their private space for work. Often, this brings additional costs for utilities, such as heating, electricity, etc. On the other hand, several companies that have closed down their offices make savings, since they final costs for electricity, gas, etc. is reduced. Against this background, the Parliament adopted a law (Law 296/2020) which allows companies to pay up to 400 RON per month (€80) in addition to the paid salaries for covering of utilities and extra-costs related to telework.
Starting with January 2021, the Romanian employees working from home could be paid up to 400 RON for paying the utilities needed for the telework (heating, electricity, internet, furniture, technical equipment, etc.). According to the law, the companies can pay this amount to every teleworker, without any justifying documents attached. The amount is paid in addition to the wages, is exempted from any tax and is deductible from the company's annual profit. The maximum threshold is 400 RON and the paid amount is in accordance with the number of worked days in the respective month (for example, for 10 working days the received amount is 200 RON (€40)).
The measure targets employees working from home. There is no official estimation of the total number of teleworkers in Romania, but according to Eurofound, 8% of the employees in Romania are working from home as a result of the health crisis. However, the measure is optional - the companies are not obliged to pay the financial support, so it is not possible to estimate how many employees from those working from home will benefit of the measure.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Applies to all workers | Applies to all businesses | Does not apply to citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
National government
Trade unions Company / Companies |
Companies
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | Unknown | Unknown |
Form | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
The exact involvement of social partners is unknown - as a rule, all laws are debated in the specialised committees of the Parliament, the sessions of which are open to trade unions and employers organisations.
No public reaction expressed by trade unions or employers organisations regarding this measure.
Citation
Eurofound (2021), Financial support for teleworkers, measure RO-2021-1/1700 (measures in Romania), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/RO-2021-1_1700.html
Share
30 January 2023
Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.
Article12 September 2022
Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Article12 September 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.
Article5 July 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.
ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.