The Minister of Labor announces the adoption by the Chamber of Deputies of an ambitious draft law for the modification and completion of some essential normative acts in the social field. The project, which was initiated on September 7, 2023, marks a crucial moment in the efforts to reform social assistance and was enthusiastically received by the Minister of Labor and Social Solidarity, Simona-Bucura Oprescu, who emphasized its importance in regenerating trust in this vital system.
The reform brings improvements to six fundamental normative acts for social assistance in Romania, among which are the Social Assistance Law no. 292/2011, Law no. 197/2012 regarding quality assurance in social services, and GEO no. 82/2016 for the special status of the public position of social inspector. These changes are described by officials as "clear, firm and brave", establishing a robust legislative framework for social service providers while strengthening the protection of beneficiaries.
One of the central pillars of the law is the modification of the method of financing social services, based on the principle "the financing follows the beneficiary", ensuring increased transparency in the spending of public funds. The law also provides for the strengthening of the role of the social inspector, improving the functional capacity of the Social Inspection and introducing a system of free counseling for social service providers, to ensure compliance with the legislation.
A major innovation is the creation of the electronic national register for the record of people receiving social services, a tool that will allow inspectors to access in real time the data needed for field checks. In addition, for the first time, the law introduces criminal sanctions for those who provide social services without a license, with fines that can reach up to 100.000 lei, marking an important step towards ensuring the quality and safety of services offered to citizens.
Minister Simona-Bucura Oprescu thanked all those involved in the drafting of the new law, including non-governmental organizations, the People's Advocate, the National College of Social Workers, representatives of religious cults, the university environment and other key partners. "This project is an important result, but we must continue working together in the process of implementing the social assistance reform and regenerating trust", said the minister, emphasizing the importance of continuous collaboration for the success of the reform.
The draft law is now to be promulgated, marking a new chapter in the history of social assistance in Romania, one in which social services will be more accessible, transparent and adapted to the real needs of citizens.
