Romania’s labor minister says gov’t can’t afford to hike child allowance until mid-2020

Sursa foto: Inquam Photos/George Călin

Romania’s labor minister says the government can’t afford to double child allowance until mid-2020 as there was no provision for the hike in the budget.

The minister, Violeta Alexandru, said the increase from 150 lei per month to 300 lei, or about 63 euros, for children aged 2-18 “can’t happen overnight” and would likely occur when the government reviewed the budget and made adjustments in July.

“It isn’t a problem of we don’t want to do it, but we have to see how it can be done,” she said.

Her comments came after President Klaus Iohannis signed off on the law earlier Tuesday.

The Chamber of Deputies voted for the increase on December 18 and the law was sent to the president who needs to approve it, or send it back to Parliament.

Under the measure, children under two and children aged 2-18 who have a disability will get 600 lei, about euros a month.

“We are willing for the law to be put into practice, but … but we can’t do it overnight, really we can’t,” Alexandru said.

Prime Minister Ludovic Orban also said the measure would be deferred until “we have the possibility of ensuring the financial resources from the budget.”

The government will decided what to do about the increase at a government meeting this week.

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