About 8,000 state employees affiliated to several Romanian trade unions gathered in Victoria Square downtown Bucharest to demand a higher minimum salary at national level, restored salaries, new jobs and employee protection. Some 20,000 protesters had been initially announced by organizers, as Romanian news agency Mediafax reported. The protest started at 11.00 a.m. and is due to end at 2.30 p.m..
Traffic has been restricted on several streets in downtown Bucharest while Victoria Square is closed completely.
State employees demand a minimum salary at national level of 740 lei in 2010 and 1300 lei in 2014.
