Thousands of Romanian health workers protest, demanding higher wages, food allowances

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – Thousands of Romanian health workers on Monday protested in front of the government headquarters in the capital Bucharest, demanding higher wages and food allowances.

Approximately 5,000 health care workers staged a protest, saying this is their final warning before a general strike.

The health workers began their rally in Victory Square and marched to the Labor and Health Ministries, as well as in front of the Parliament Palace, to demand higher wages and food allowances.

Many health workers from across Romania traveled to the capital to join the protest.

Health workers insist on the government respecting the right to index salary income to inflation, ensuring a real increase in salary income, receiving fair remuneration for taking risks when working in particularly dangerous, harmful conditions, as well as providing additional financial incentives for shift work, and work on weekends and holidays.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said he is open to dialogue and willing to meet as many of the protesters' demands as possible.