Teachers’ salaries will rise by 11–15% from January 1, depending on their professional grade. Those who take on additional responsibilities may also qualify for performance bonuses, potentially bringing the total increase to 20–30% in some cases. Education and Research Minister Dan Perciun provided these details following the government’s approval of the new law on remuneration, IPN reports.

According to the minister, the increases will apply to both base salaries and additional payments for teaching qualifications. The amounts will also depend on length of service, the type of institution, and other pay components.

Another change concerns performance bonuses, which would be awarded annually rather than every six months to reduce red tape. Teachers would be eligible for these bonuses if they take on additional responsibilities, such as chairing teaching methodology committees, serving on certification panels, preventing bullying, or helping students achieve strong results in exams and academic competitions.

The minister estimates that allowances could boost salaries by a further 10–15%, bringing the total increase to 20–25%, and in some cases as much as 30%. Proposals for a new system of awarding allowances in educational institutions, including sports and arts schools, are expected to be presented within the next two to three weeks.

At the same time, certain categories of staff in educational institutions will receive larger pay rises. Cooks’ salaries are expected to increase by around 40%, while those of teaching assistants and school principals are set to rise by more than 20%.

The bill to reform the unified pay system in the public sector, affecting more than 172,000 employees, is set to receive its first reading in Parliament on Monday.