Simona Bucura-Oprescu, Minister of Labor, has officially announced a new order of extraordinary importance for millions of Romanians across the country, this one regarding the updating of the value of meal vouchers for 2025 was recently announced by, in a press conference organized in Bucharest.
Simona Bucura-Oprescu says that, based on the new regulations, starting with April 2025, the indexed nominal value of a meal ticket will be 40,18 lei. This decision comes in the context of the periodic update provided for by law no. 165/2018, which regulates the granting of meal tickets and requires the adaptation of their value depending on the evolution of the consumer price index for food products, communicated by the National Institute of Statistics.
The updating of the value of meal vouchers is done by multiplying the last indexed value, which was set at 40,04 lei, by the consumer price index recorded for food products. To determine this index, the average level achieved over the last semester, consisting of 6 full calendar months, is compared with the average of the indices from the penultimate semester.
Simona Bucura-Oprescu also states that, in this case, the average consumer price increase index for the last 6 months was 100,54%, compared to 100,20% in the previous semester. The calculation based on these values leads to a final index of 100,34%, and multiplying the value of 40,04 lei by this percentage leads to the new value of 40,18 lei for the meal ticket.
The government decision provides that this value will be applied for the entire first semester of 2025, that is, from April to July 2025, and in addition, for the first two months of the second semester (August and September 2025) the same indexed value will be used.
Simona Bucura-Oprescu states that this measure ensures a smooth transition between semesters and maintains a degree of predictability for employees, who benefit from this compensation system. The Minister of Labor highlighted during the conference important economic considerations that were the basis of this adjustment.
Amid the continuous increase in consumer prices, the measure comes as a way to protect employees' purchasing power, helping to balance the real costs of food products with the social benefits provided.
It is noted that the periodic adjustment of the value of meal vouchers is essential to keep up with inflation and to respond appropriately to economic changes that directly affect the daily lives of citizens.
Simona Bucura-Oprescu points out that, although the increase from 40,04 lei to 40,18 lei may seem modest, this adjustment reflects a sustained evolution of food prices. The semi-annual update of meal vouchers represents a social protection mechanism, designed to ensure that the benefits granted do not become ineffective in the context of inflation.
In addition, this measure contributes to a climate of transparency and fairness, both in the public and private sectors. Ministry representatives stated that for any additional information, citizens can consult the official website of the Ministry of Labor or contact the institution directly through the contact details provided.
In conclusion, the decision to update the value of meal vouchers is perceived as an essential step in adapting social policies to the current economic reality, thus ensuring a balance between rising living costs and benefits granted to employees.
