ANALYSE LABOUR AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPROVING SOCIAL PROTECTION IN ROMANIA Dragoș Adăscăliţei Cristina Raţ Marcel Spătari November 2020 Only one-fifth of children living in low-income households in Romania avoid poverty as a result of social transfers, as compared to 40% in the EU on average The value of the social reference indicator used as a benchmark for social benefits has remained constant at 500 lei since its introduction in 2008. The increase of the social reference indicator to 1,200 lei would results in an estimated economic gain of 0.9% of the GDP Income-support benefits, fair progressive taxation and better access to health insurance are necessary to foster labour market transitions from precarious employment to wage labour