Vice Prime Minister Tanczos Barna stated on Monday that the draft law prohibiting the cumulation of pension with salary in the public sector aims to „ensure balance and fairness.”
In his opinion, the rule should be applied without exceptions, although he admits that exceptions could arise in the final drafting stage.
Tanczos Barna emphasized that the new legal framework exclusively targets hirings in the public sector. "First and foremost, it is only for the public sector," he said, as reported by Digi24.
According to the project, if a person retires early or under special rules and later re-enters a public institution, they will only receive 15% of the non-contributory component of the special pension, with the remainder being suspended for the duration of the new contract. The measure targets "judges, prosecutors, military personnel, police officers, gendarmes, and those from other structures, SRI, SIE, and similar structures."
No restrictions for private sector employment
The Vice Prime Minister specified that the provisions do not affect re-employment in the private sector.
"If they are employed in the private sector, they can receive their full pension, both the contributory and the 'special' one," said Tanczos Barna.
He argued that work performed in the private sector "contributes to the economy" and does not justify any limitation.
"I hope there are no exceptions"
Asked about possible derogations, Barna was decisive: "I hope there are no exceptions. It must be a general rule."
However, he admitted that "until the text is finalized and definitively approved, yes, there is a possibility" of exceptions, although they have not been discussed so far.
"If you can work after 50 years, you retired too early"
The official argued that the law aims to correct situations deemed unfair. "It is a rule to create balance and fairness," he said.
Tanczos Barna stated that when a beneficiary of a special pension still has the necessary workforce to return to the public sector, "it means you retired too early." "Not because you were too tired, not because you couldn't contribute to institutional activity anymore, so you have a lower 'special' pension, meaning you benefit from 15%," said Tanczos Barna.
The Ministry of Labor has published the revised draft law, which prohibits the cumulation of pension with salary in the public sector. Unlike the initial version, the new provisions only apply to holders of special pensions and do not affect teachers or doctors.