Romanian Farmers To Be Included In Country's Future Single Pension System

Romanian labor minister Mihai Seitan said Monday there will no longer be a special pension system for agriculture and farmers will be included in the single pension system.
"There will no longer be a special pension system for farmers. There is no point to it. All pension categories will be included in the single system. This means farmers as well," Seitan said.

He added the pension law targeting farmers was prorogated.

Seitan went on saying pensions, including those of farmers, will not be increased this year.

The Romanian Government decided the increase of the pension point would be postponed until end-2010, including for people in labor groups I and II, because of the financial crisis, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

According to the same sources, the Government also decided that the provisions of the farmer pension law would be postponed until the end of 2010.

In October 2009, the Government drafted an IMF-required pension law which was to increase retirement age and eliminate special pensions, such as those of lawmakers, magistrates, military, law enforcement and intelligence services staff.

The Government pledged to reform the country's public pension system by December under an IMF-led EUR19.95 billion financial rescue package.

Under the draft pension law, all special pensions would be integrated in the public system and would be recalculated depending on people's contributions, which means they would be reduced.