Living standards in Romania now are 44% better than ten years ago, according to the latest Eurostat data, Romania’s Minister of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity, Simona Bucura-Oprescu, said on Thursday.

„Romania, compared to ten years ago, according to recent Eurostat data, has a 44% increase in the living standards. Of course, each of us feels the need to see this growth in our lives, but I say that it can be seen. Although we do not realise it, our living standards have improved significantly,” the minister said.

She offered a personal example.

„My great-grandmother washed with rainwater and homemade soap. My grandmother had only one box of detergent that she used for all the household chores. My mother already had a washing machine. Today most of us have a washing machine and several types of detergents. Of course, we want every Romanian not to be at risk of poverty and social deprivation. For that to happen, we have to continue what we started together.”

As for the institutional capacity of the Labour Inspectorate, the minister said that although the ministry has completed the relevant government decision, this whole approach will not be able to be carried out due to political changes.

„Even though we have finalised the government decision increasing the institutional capacity of the Labour Inspectorate, due to political changes, I do not know if we will be able to complete this whole process. The Labour Inspectorate today has one thousand workers fewer than ten years ago, during which time the legislation has continuously evolved. This institution is a key institution in the field of the labour market.”

The minister added that in 2025, the Ministry of Labour turns 105 years. „On March 29, 1920, General Averescu established the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. The country’s first labour minister was Grigore Trancu-Iasi, an economist by training, but a Romanian close to the people. His activity began with a relevant piece of legislation regulating labour conflicts, known as the first law of social dialogue in Romania. Now, since 2022, Romania also has improved legislation in the field of social dialogue,” added the minister.

Bucura-Oprescu participated on Thursday in a debate on the transposition of the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights in the Romanian labour market, the second day of the 13th Congress of the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS).

AGERPRES