Every year, the Romanian state shells out nearly 3 billion euros on a dizzying array of bonuses, primes, and allowances for employees in its institutions and state companies. While government officials wrestle with strategies to reduce the budget deficit, some state workers continue to pocket extraordinary perks that raise eyebrows and spark debate across the country.
Among the most eye-catching is the so-called "kitchen allowance," a bonus that can reach up to 100% of a chef-manager's salary. For instance, the chef-manager at Complexul Silva, located near Lacul Tei, reportedly receives this full salary supplement, in addition to other allowances like those for European Union funds, night shifts, and stress. This astonishing perk is just one piece of a much larger puzzle of state employee benefits that many find hard to justify amid ongoing fiscal challenges.
Romsilva, the state forestry company, exemplifies the scale of these expenditures. In a single year, it disbursed 178 million lei (roughly 36 million euros) solely on retirement bonuses, which can soar to the equivalent of 10 gross monthly salaries. The most notable case involved Teodor Țigan, a regional chief at Romsilva, who received a staggering 100,000 euros as a retirement bonus before being rehired by the company. Such figures highlight the vast sums flowing to state employees beyond their base pay.
But the extravagance doesn’t stop there. Eleven employees at Romsilva receive a monthly "stress allowance" of 1,000 lei (about 200 euros), a bonus that persists despite some cuts to other perks. Meanwhile, a bewildering list of allowances exists across the public sector, including:
- Seniority bonuses ranging from 5% to 25% of the base salary
- European Union funds-related bonuses at 50% of the salary
- Doctorate bonuses also at 50%
- Antenna allowances of 15%
- Dangerous working conditions bonuses at 15%
- Night work bonuses of 25%
- "Dust," computer, or satellite radiation allowances that can reach up to 1,500 lei (around 300 euros) monthly
At the Constitutional Court of Romania, the allowances become even more specialized and generous. Employees there receive bonuses for risk and neuropsychic overload amounting to 11,315 lei (approximately 2,250 euros), a confidentiality bonus of 5% of their base salary, and an additional 1,500 lei for harmful working conditions.
These allowances reflect a complex and sometimes opaque system of remuneration that has been criticized for its lack of transparency and the burden it places on Romania’s public finances. The fact that some employees receive multiple bonuses stacked on top of each other—like the chef-manager who earns kitchen, EU funds, night work, and stress allowances—adds to the perception of excess.
While some of these bonuses originally aimed to compensate for difficult or specialized work conditions, critics argue that many have become entrenched perks, disconnected from actual job demands. For example, the "dust allowance" or "antenna allowance" seem particularly puzzling, with some employees receiving up to 1,500 lei monthly for exposure to dust or satellite radiation, though the real health risks and necessity of such payments are questionable.
Moreover, the sheer scale of these expenditures raises questions about fiscal responsibility in a country grappling with economic challenges. The billions spent annually on these bonuses could arguably be redirected toward essential public services or deficit reduction.
Government officials have been discussing new taxes and budgetary measures to address Romania’s fiscal deficit, yet these lavish allowances continue to drain resources. This has led to public frustration and calls for reform. Some sporadic cuts to certain bonuses have occurred, but many remain firmly in place.
The case of Romsilva’s retirement bonuses, especially the enormous payout to Teodor Țigan, has become emblematic of the problem. Not only did he receive a massive retirement bonus, but his subsequent re-employment at the company fuels perceptions of a system that rewards insiders excessively.
Similarly, the Constitutional Court’s hefty bonuses for neuropsychic overload and confidentiality highlight disparities within the public sector. Such payments, while perhaps justified on paper by the nature of the work, appear extravagant in a broader context.
In the end, Romania faces a balancing act: how to fairly compensate public employees for their duties without undermining fiscal stability or public trust. As the government debates new taxes and reforms, these bonus structures will likely come under increasing scrutiny.
Whether the state can rein in these generous allowances remains to be seen. For now, the millions flowing into pockets for "dust," "stress," and "kitchen" bonuses paint a vivid picture of a system ripe for overhaul.
