Employees in the private sector could receive holiday vouchers from 2024

RADIO ROMANIA NEWS - Employees from the private sector could receive holiday vouchers next year. A legislative proposal, signed by 130 MPs from PSD, PNL and UDMR, in the Senate, provides that, in addition to budget workers, private sector employees will also benefit from holiday vouchers worth 1.450 lei, until December 31, 2026. The money will be allocated annually, from the state budget, from the income tax paid by each employer.

Reporter: Alina Stanuta: "The initiators of the document show in the statement of reasons that the mechanism for distributing vacation vouchers for the 4.2 million employees in the private sector will contribute, among other things, to encouraging the conclusion of employment contracts. Employers will only have a role as intermediaries between the state and employees, which does not involve their own financial effort, and the amount from the state budget for granting vacation vouchers to the approximately 4.2 million private employees is approximately 6.09 billion lei. According to the initiators, the global effect will be a positive one, because of this amount it is estimated that 60-65% will return to the state budget in the form of VAT, taxes or payroll taxes. Such a decision will also have a positive impact on domestic tourism, the initiators believe, still affected after the COVID-19 pandemic. They specify that in order to grant holiday vouchers, employers will submit the list of employees to the County Administrations of Public Finances annually, by January 31. The provisions of the draft law enter into force on January 1, 2024, according to the draft submitted to the Senate. Currently, the granting of holiday vouchers in the private sector is optional."

Translated by: Radu Matei