Zero wage rises in private sector

'Most companies will encounter a salary freeze, which means that the salaries will not go up or they will go up by a percentage high enough to cover the inflation rate,' said Geanina Rindasu, official of Monday Insight Consulting, partner of Hewitt Associates, one of the most representative global companies of consulting in human resources told daily Ziarul Financiar.

The monthly average salary on economy grew 20 percent in 2006, reaching 245 euros and in 2007 advanced 27 percent up to 313 euros, show the figures of the National Statistics Institute (INS). In September this year, the net average salary was of 358 euros. The salaries for some positions in banks, real estate or IT&C grew over the past years by 20-50 percent or even doubled allowing for the deficit of experts.

For 2009, although there are not enough statistical figures regarding the modification of the intentions of salary rise, at present most companies reexamine the political wage, said Ruxandra Stoian, manager of consulting services in human resources within consulting and audit company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Romania.

'Next year we might face two scenarios. A crisis scenario in which the company is in a financial difficulty which it anticipates, that will last for about six months and is forced to adopt a strategy of surviving. In this case, the wage rises will be limited or reach the zero level for all employees. In the case the company will not face a major financial pressure, the wage rises will exceed by some 3.4 percent the inflation rate. 'In this case, although there will be wage rise, there will not be more than two digits,' said Stoian. The draft budget adopted by the Government for next year stipulates a gross average salary of 518 euros and a rise of 9.7 percent compared to this year.