Argeș Teachers Face Legal Threat Over Salary Audit Repayments

A new conflict has erupted in Arges County schools after the County School Inspectorate ordered all educational units to verify salary rights granted via court rulings, following a Ministry of Education audit that identified approximately 1 million lei in allegedly incorrect payments. The audit, covering January 2022 to March 2026, found errors in 23 institutions, including the improper inclusion of hazardous condition bonuses without supporting documents, failure to remove the COVID-19 risk factor after June 2023, and calculation of "bonus on bonus" by including merit gradations and leadership allowances. The "Muntenia" teachers' union has threatened legal action, arguing that an audit cannot overturn definitive court decisions and that teachers received the money in good faith. Union leader Adrian Voica claims the Inspectorate is imposing a uniform 5% bonus rate despite courts awarding up to 15% based on risk factors, while accountants describe the salary software as outdated and demand a dedicated module for court sentence calculations. The union warns that any salary deductions without employee consent would violate the Labor Code and Constitutional Court rulings.