As of today, July 1, the first day of sick leaves will not be paid. Laura Grecu, department head at the Labor Ministry, has told Info-Prim Neo that on July 1 a set of amendments entered in effect according to which the first day of the sick leave is sustained by the employee, the second is covered by the employer and starting from the third day the sick leave is covered by the state social insurance system. Another amendment concerns pregnant women receiving maternity benefits and parents who take care of sick children, as well as recipients of benefits for temporary inability to work, who will receive benefits from the first day. A separate amendment concerns public functionaries, whose default retirement age will be gradually increased each year by 6 months from 52 years to 57 years for women and from 57 years to 62 years for men. Length of service requirements will also increase for public functionaries as well as for military personnel.