Although the recently adopted “Train Ordinance” has eliminated many facilities, some public sector employees will still receive vacation vouchers. Under the provisions, these vouchers are intended for staff with net basic salaries up to RON 8,000. The holiday vouchers will have a value of 800 lei and can be used to cover a maximum of 50% of the cost of tourist packages. So, for a package costing at least RON 1,600, the employee contributes RON 800 and the voucher covers the rest. HoReCa and the National Association of Tourist Agencies have sounded the alarm. They believe that the generalized elimination of vouchers could have serious consequences for the Romanian economy:
- Tourism revenues could fall by 30-40%.
- Thousands of Romanians, especially those on low incomes, would lose access to vacations and treatments;
This change, along with other austerity measures, continues to generate controversy and concern among employees, trade unions and entrepreneurs.