The National Trade Union Block (BNS) is organizing a protest rally in Victory Square on Wednesday, November 12, starting at 10:00, followed by a march to Constitution Square. The event takes place „in an increasingly burdensome economic and social context for Romanian employees,” BNS reports.
Participants will stop in front of the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Environment.
"Govern for us too! Not just for yourselves!" Under this slogan, the National Trade Union Block demands urgent measures from the Government to stop the decline in purchasing power and improve the lives of workers. "It is time to react united against the decline in purchasing power and the anti-worker policies promoted by the government. Workers are once again the sacrificial lambs - although we work more, we are getting poorer! Impoverishing the population has become state policy," warns the organization.
BNS: "Inflation, higher than in the crisis year 2010"
The trade unionists accuse that the liberalization of energy prices and the increase in VAT have led to an inflation rate of 9.9%, higher than that in 2010. According to BNS, prices have increased by 46.2% between 2022 and August 2025.
BNS calls for targeted measures to reduce inflation and protect the purchasing power of the population's incomes.
Raising the minimum wage to 4,325 lei
BNS warns that freezing the minimum wage and the policies announced for 2026 will "amputate" purchasing power, affecting over 1.8 million employees.
The organization calls for raising the gross minimum wage from 4,050 to at least 4,325 lei, according to the official calculation formula and labor productivity evolution.
The trade unionists also request reducing the personal deduction from 300 to 200 lei and introducing growth coefficients:
- 1.1 for qualified workers - minimum wage of 4,757 lei;
- 1.5 for those with higher education - minimum wage of 6,488 lei.
Real collective bargaining and union protection
BNS signals that collective bargaining is blocked or formal in most sectors of the economy. The Confederation calls for extending collective bargaining at the sector level, respecting the right to union representation, and eliminating legal restrictions on free negotiation in public institutions and state-owned companies.
BNS demands a halt to reforms based on salary and position cuts in the public sector, as well as the introduction of clear and transparent criteria for evaluating workers.
"We emphatically say 'NO' to purges based on political criteria that we anticipate will occur as a result of the restructuring process in the public sector," warns the union.
Reducing taxation and combating tax evasion
Romania has one of the highest fiscal burdens on salaries in the European Union - over 43% of labor costs represent taxes and contributions, BNS points out.
In this regard, the union calls for a real labor tax reform by reducing social contributions and protecting low incomes. At the same time, combating tax evasion must become the "Government's top priority."
Public investments for economic recovery
BNS requests a comprehensive program of public investments that efficiently uses European and national funds, especially for railway infrastructure, local transport, agriculture, health, and culture. The organization also calls for state aid schemes to encourage investments in key industrial sectors such as automobiles, defense, and shipbuilding.
"It is time to emphatically state: We do not accept the impoverishment of Romanian workers!" concludes the National Trade Union Block.