Natalia Plugaru
During a press conference, Natalia Plugaru stated that the proposed measures are intended to ensure greater fairness, transparency, and predictability. The minister emphasized that these changes align with amendments to the law on wages and are aimed at eliminating unjustified disparities between different categories of workers, while bringing national practices into line with European standards.
Changes to Vacation Policies
With regard to annual leave, the authorities are proposing to switch from expressing its duration in calendar days to working days. According to officials, this measure will simplify the calculation method and ensure a clear and equal number of actual days off for all employees, regardless of how their vacation is split up or whether they have additional days off.
Natalia Plugaru explained that the current system, based on calendar days, creates inequality because the actual number of days off depends on how employees split their vacation, whether or not they include weekends. The transition to working days is intended to eliminate these disparities.
“Another reason is to align with the practices of other European countries. Most European Union member states already use systems based on working days. The minimum duration of annual leave in European countries ranges from 20 to 30 working days, and the average is about 24 working days in the EU,” added Plugaru.
At the same time, as Logos Press reported recently, the additional leave currently granted in the public sector for length of service is being eliminated.
“As you know, certain categories of staff currently enjoy additional leave granted for length of service, which can increase the total duration of annual leave by up to 20 additional days,” the minister noted.
She stated that “no one will lose the vacation days they have already accrued; all vacation entitlements accrued by December 31, 2026, will be preserved in full” and that “we are not talking about canceling or reducing existing vacation time.”
What’s Changing in Pensions for Military Personnel and Employees with Special Status
As for the reform of the pension system for military personnel and civil servants with special status, which Logos Press has already reported on, one of the main changes is the introduction of a minimum retirement age, which will gradually increase from 45 in 2027 to 50 by 2036.
The minister outlined the main changes affecting this category of workers:
“It is important to emphasize that we are talking about a transition spanning nearly 10 years; therefore, this is not a sudden change—it is gradual and predictable—and the retirement age will increase by 6 months each year, so that everyone will have enough time to plan their career and professional path. At the same time, for certain sectors and professions that involve increased risk, we will maintain the option to retire at age 45. Thus, the specific nature of the work will continue to be taken into account,” said Plugaru.
The requirement to resign from one’s position in order to become eligible for a pension is also being abolished, and the option to have pensions recalculated for individuals who continue working after reaching retirement age is being introduced. To ensure a more representative pension calculation, the calculation period will be extended from the last 12 months to the last 60 months of service, and the age limit for remaining in service will be increased by 5 years, which will help retain specialists. At the same time, pensions that have already been established will continue to be paid in full; the new rules will not apply to them.
“In essence, both the leave reform and the pension reform for civil servants with special status share the same goal, along with the law on remuneration: to build a fairer, more transparent, and more sustainable system—one that continues to protect people’s rights while responding to today’s realities, and also offers guarantees to future generations who will enjoy the same rights and opportunities,” — concluded Natalia Plugaru.
The new rules are set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
