Collective bargaining agreements might become compulsory

According to the Romanian legislation in force, the employers have no obligation to conclude a collective bargaining agreement, but only to initiate the negotiations, in case of companies with minimum 21 employees.

Boc Government removed the collective bargaining agreements at unit level and also the industry-wide agreements back in 2011, in the context of the financial crisis. Recently, the Minister of Public Consultation and Social Dialogue, Mr. Gabriel Petrea, launched the idea of reintroducing compulsory collective bargaining agreements both in public institutions and also in private companies, stating that it is a goal that the employees to be protected including by industry-wide collective bargaining agreements. Such proposal will be launched for public debate after the Law on uniform payment within the public sector will enter into force.