Radio România Internațional

Tag: COVID-19 pandemic

  • Resignations and adjustments on the Romanian labor market

    Resignations and adjustments on the Romanian labor market

    In 2021, the second
    year of the pandemic also brought about an unusual, if not unexpected,
    phenomenon on the labor market – a massive number of resignations. Seen as the
    great resignation in the USA, the phenomenon turned global, also affecting
    Romania. A recent survey attests to the existence of the phenomenon. Raluca
    Dumitra, a communication manager with an online recruiting agency told us more:


    Candidates are more willing
    to compromise. At the start of the year, we conducted a survey among
    job-seekers and it turned out 21% of employees would quit their current job,
    even if they don’t have a backup plan. It’s a rather high percentage which I
    think should worry employers, all the more so as restrictions were lifted on
    March 9. This means employers will want to get people back to work, considering
    workers want to remain flexible. A return in block to the workplace would also
    possibly prompt employees to resign. Another interesting fact is that right now
    candidates are extremely optimistic. Around 75% of Romanians believe they might
    find a job within three months. It’s a high rate of optimism considering the
    reality on the market. Most industries and sectors are facing a significant
    labor shortage, which means highly qualified experts might actually find a job
    in less than three months right now.


    Petru Păcuraru, the
    director of a company that specializes in human resources has confirmed this
    phenomenon, also identifying its causes:


    One reason would be
    that 2020 was a year of uncertainty. People stopped switching jobs, meaning
    there were less people who resigned in search of a better workplace, but the
    situation changed radically in 2021. 2020 will be the year with the highest job
    retention rate in the history of mankind, as mobility was affected. Another
    reason is that, businesses have started moving back offline bit by bit. And
    then, part of the people who got used to working online will have a hard time
    doing their job, and for them this is a criterion when looking for a new job.
    And thirdly, I might add, despite economic difficulties, we see people continue
    to invest in luxury goods. And one reason is that, in times of crises, people
    are thinking about what matters to them most. And those who were about to
    compromise, thinking they would keep their job until they find something better
    for themselves, found themselves in a bad spot and realized the tradeoff wasn’t
    worth it, and they mustered up their courage to look for something better.


    At the same time,
    people who dare resign without any safety net have a financial and professional
    status above average, Petru Păcuraru told us:


    If we look at
    demographic and income indicators, we will certainly notice people over the age
    of 30 or 35 taking this decision, as well as those whose education and income
    levels are above average. However, resigning is not always followed by an
    immediate reemployment solution. An example are those working in highly
    volatile sectors who face high stress levels that can lead to burnout. The
    decision to stop working is not determined by finding a new job, but merely by
    the will to stay alive.


    Although resigning
    without a backup plan might seem a decision stimulated by an exaggerated sense
    of optimism at first, the latest developments on the labor market do justice to
    those who believe a new job, one that is better-suited for them, will sooner or
    later appear. Raluca Dumitra told us more:


    For instance, last
    month we had 38 thousand new jobs listed on our platform, which is tantamount
    to the war in Ukraine. If we look at the previous month, we will notice a 13%
    increase, considering this is a difficult context we’re talking about, meaning
    people continue to switch jobs. Candidates continue to apply and we have some
    900 applications every month. Therefore, people continue to resign and are
    prompted by jobseekers’ desire to find a better job. In terms of the number of
    applications, they are down compared to the same period last year, but that’s
    not a surprise, since last year came with record-high numbers of applications.
    This time last year, the market did not favor job applicants. Last year,
    employers were in a position of power. Another important aspect is that 8 out
    of 10 Romanians for whom switching jobs was a priority have already started
    looking for a job. And this is also reflected in the high number of job
    applications we continue to receive.


    Of course, there are
    sectors where the demand of workforce is higher, such as retail, transport,
    hospitality, call-centers and IT&C. Therefore, the market will continue to
    change, Raluca Dumitra argues.


    We cannot compare to
    the wave of resignations in the US, and I don’t believe Romania will get to
    that point, simply because we are talking about a different culture and
    mentality. Yet it is worth noting that Romanians are growing increasingly aware
    of the context and the fact that there are many jobs available, even in times
    of pandemic or war. This makes them feel more confident, even though they don’t
    have backup plans. The high number of jobs will definitely favor the wave of
    resignations over the coming period. All that must be analyzed in a
    geopolitical context, of course, but once a ceasefire is reached, the labor
    market will continue its current course and we’ll be seeing more resignations.
    (VP)

  • Inflation – public enemy no. 1

    Inflation – public enemy no. 1


    The latest report on inflation for Romania shows that the annual rate has gone up to 8.19% in December last year, mainly an effect of the energy price hikes. Overall, the annual inflation rate went up 6.13% last year. According to National Bank experts, the increase was determined nearly entirely by the global shocks on the market, which triggered a robust spike in inflation rates worldwide. Moreover, at domestic level, the effects were further amplified by the liberalization of the domestic energy market. The current inflation rate is based on both offer and demand indicators, Adrian Codârlașu with the Association of Finance and Banking Analysts, has told Radio Romania.




    Adrian Codârlașu: “The offer factors are the prices for energy and other goods and agricultural products. On the demand side, the Bank has issued a lot of currency. And its not just Romania that did so, but all major economies. For instance, if we look at how much the Federal Reserve has printed – nearly 2 out of 3 dollars were printed as a result of the coronavirus fallout, at EU level one in two Euro was printed by the European Central Bank. Therefore, national banks responded very firmly to the coronacrisis, otherwise we risked another recession. Basically, this is the price we all have to pay for overcoming the current crisis. Think about it, during the lockdown, if we went on without the support of the central banks, we would have had a much deeper economic recession compared to 2008”.




    Indeed, the inflation rate has gone up sensibly, standing at a level that causes difficulties not just in Romania. The United States didnt face the inflation of a few decades ago, the Eurozone reported a 5.1% rate, a figure which was unthinkable a year ago and which continues to give central banks a hard time, since the target quotas are difficult to achieve, Daniel Dăianu, a university professor and the president of the Fiscal Council, claims.




    Daniel Dăianu: “Its not easy, because we also have the impact of energy price hikes, so we have this energy crisis that derives from the economic comeback, from the fact that energy is a product with significant geopolitical underpinnings. By the way, the EUs dependency on Russia is another contributing factor. We have climate change, which in turn generates long-term shocks, and this painful transition for Romanian economy and society as a whole. We will need, however, to get through this, because climate change is a real threat. And its not easy to do it. Its no accident the inflation rate is so high in Europe and in America. Therefore, inflation has become a problem everywhere. Its not an exclusively Romanian phenomenon. Some 10-15 years ago we could speak about Romania standing out in terms of the inflation dynamics. Right now, inflation is really high everywhere. Were now in the situation where we are witnessing an earthquake on the energy market with international ramifications, as well as an unfortunate geopolitical context, we can see what is happening in Romanias eastern vicinity, a series of developments that is further complicating the international context.”




    An additional reason behind inflation has to do with international supply chains, Iulian Stănescu from the Quality of Life Institute of the Romanian Academy explains.




    Iulian Stănescu: “Due to the pandemic and the health crisis, the economic activity was halted in several sectors, including transport and the storage of goods. And when producers report delays in the reception of raw materials, then the end products themselves also arrive later on the market. And since we live in a global economy, a large part of these end products originate from abroad. Therefore, we also import the problems facing the supply chains, which in turn determine price hikes on the market.”




    Estimates for the period ahead are grim: experts expect the inflation rate to exceed 10% in Romania, arguing the annual rate will continue to increase significantly in the second quarter of this year, mainly as a result of electricity and natural gas price hikes beyond original estimates. Their effects will become transparent once the state subsidy schemes addressing household users will come to an end. In the second half of 2022, the annual inflation rate is expected to decrease gradually, experience a rather abrupt downward adjustment in the first half of 2023, in order to meet the target announced by the National Bank, namely 1.5 to 3.5% in the last quarter of next year. In an attempt to keep the inflation rate in check, the Central Bank has already increased interest rates substantially. Starting February 10, the monetary policy interest rate stands at 2.5% per year. The aim of this measure is to reduce consumption in order to trigger a decrease in prices as well. Increasing the Central Bank interest rate by 0.5% will first impact the interest rate of commercial banks, only to subsequently affect the reference indicators used to calculate the rates for local currency loans addressing both natural persons and businesses. (VP)




  • Listener’s Day on RRI

    Listener’s Day on RRI


    On November 1st we celebrate Radio Day here in Romania, a date linked to the establishment of Romanian public broadcasting service back in 1928. To mark this celebration, Radio Romania International is traditionally hosting a special broadcast around this date in which listeners get to weigh in on a topical subject. And what can be more topical this year than the coronavirus pandemic and the harm posed by misinformation?


    This year on Listeners Day, weve asked you to share your own experience with fake news during the pandemic. We were also eager to find out if the pandemic has affected the way you get your information, and more specifically what sources you use to keep yourself informed on an everyday basis. Today we will be looking at your interesting insights into these topics.









  • Vaccination – between trust and mistrust

    Vaccination – between trust and mistrust

    Most
    Romanians are aware of the danger COVID-19 represents, and nearly half of the
    population believes the pandemic will go on for at least two-three years, a
    study conducted by the Quality of Life Research Institute of the Romanian
    Academy reads. Sociologist Iulian Stănescu, a scientific researcher with the
    Institute, told Radio Romania more about Romanians’ waning confidence and
    solidarity during the pandemic.


    In
    situations of social crisis, much like the recent epidemic, but we could also
    talk about war, terrorist attacks and other crises, some societies experience an
    increase in cohesion, others a drop. Romanian society is part of the latter,
    and I can say since the start of the pandemic, social cohesion has been
    affected, Romania’s social backbone is tired. In other words, society is losing
    its resilience. And resilience is also that feature of society that helps her
    resist social shocks and crises and better absorb their effects.


    Over
    half of Romanians (56%) would recommend a friend to get vaccinated, with the elderly
    and people with higher education being the most vaccine-prone. There are,
    however, over 2 million people from all social categories that oppose vaccination
    and would counter-recommend it. The main reasons behind vaccination reluctance
    and hesitancy are the lack of information, manipulation and disinformation, but
    also adverse reactions, including death, mistrust in the efficiency of vaccine,
    but also the belief that the COVID pandemic doesn’t exist. The percentage of
    people who deny the existence of the virus has reached 6% of the population,
    accounting for 800 thousand people, a group large and active enough to make its
    presence felt, the researchers also note. At a time when immunization is at its
    lowest, the authorities highlight the need to complete the COVID vaccination
    scheme and are preparing wider awareness-raising campaigns in the rural area, where
    the immunization rate remains low. According to the coordinator of the vaccination
    campaign, medical doctor Valeriu Gheorghiţă, nearly 50% of vaccination centers
    are at present working at half-capacity. The activity in certain centers will
    stop in the near future, while others will see their working hours reduced.
    With a progressive drop in the number of people taking the anti-COVID jab,
    the quantity of vaccines delivered to Bucharest will be slashed as well. So far,
    60% of the 15 million doses made available to Romania by the European
    Commission have been used. (VP)



  • Reforming the Romanian elementary education system

    Reforming the Romanian elementary education system

    In the last 30
    years Romania’s education system has been faced with a great number of
    challenges. Cabinet after Cabinet promised to implement wide-reaching reforms
    to ensure basic nationwide education. A 2018 report of the Organization for
    Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) under the Programme for
    International Student Assessment (PISA) revealed significant drops in reading,
    mathematics and sciences across Romania. An even more worrying piece of
    information is that 44% of Romanian pupils have trouble understanding what they’re
    reading, making for one of the highest rates of functional illiteracy in the
    European Union. In 2015, Romania had one of the EU’s highest school dropouts,
    19.5%. Although it did drop to 15.3% in 2019, it is still one of the highest
    rates compared to the EU average. The hard reality behind these numbers has as
    much to do with the particular difficulties faced by underprivileged
    communities, as with an overall misconception about the education process and
    the general learning experience.


    If anything, the
    COVID-19 pandemic has revealed some of the deepest-running flaws in Romania’s
    education level: severe underfunding, poor access to education in rural and
    remote areas, the lack of a transparent and centralized system for evaluating
    teaching staff, in addition to the exodus of Romania’s best-qualified alumni
    abroad, have over the years put a dent in Romanian education, with the promise
    of reforms remaining no more than an election slogan. Understaffed, undertrained
    and underpaid, teachers in underprivileged communities lack the means to
    provide even the most basic form of education. NGOs sometimes reach out to the
    authorities for support, who bring up budget limitations. Whenever the message
    does come across and finds some echo, state assistance is either not enough or
    inadequately provided. Marija-Liisa Tehnunen, the rector of Dimitrie Cantemir
    Christian University of Bucharest and an internationally acclaimed Finnish education
    expert, believes that any successful reform in education should start with the
    elementary system.


    Marja-Liisa
    Tenhunen is Rector of Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University of Bucharest. You
    can listen to the full interview here.

  • Romanian schools in the post-pandemic period

    Romanian schools in the post-pandemic period

    National exams will be
    held with the physical attendance of pupils as planned, irrespective of the epidemiological
    evolution, Education Minister Sorin Cîmpeanu, has announced. The Romanian
    official told a private television station that two exam sessions will be held,
    both for the national exams as well as for the Romanian Baccalaureate. The
    national exam session will start on June 22. Pupils who cannot sit the exam will
    be able to enroll in the second session two weeks later. The first session of
    the Romanian Baccalaureate will start on June 28, with the second one scheduled
    in mid-August. Minister Sorin Cîmpeanu expressed optimism over the start of the
    2021-2022 school year on September 13 without restrictions. Until then, the
    Education Ministry encourages the organization of summer camps and the teaching
    of remedial classes. Meanwhile, only 7% of the total number of pupils in
    Romania are still attending online classes, after some 100 thousand school and
    high-school children returned to full physical attendance in schools last week.
    The decision was taken after the infection rate in all counties across Romania
    dropped below one per thousand inhabitants. According to official figures, 270 of
    the total of 2.7 million school children tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
    Over 55,000 school children aged 16-18 have so far got vaccinated against COVID-19.
    Sorin Cîmpeanu said one of the benefits of the pandemic was the improvement of
    the digital skills of pupils and teachers alike and raising awareness about remote
    teaching, wherever it is suitable. However, the benefits did not outweigh the
    losses. Sorin Cîmpeanu:


    Apart from education losses,
    there have been disruptions in terms of social and emotional behavior, anxiety,
    things that are currently affecting society right now, both in Romania and elsewhere.
    Of course, although very big, these losses can be made up for in the five weeks
    of school we have left. We will have to try, and I am confident there are
    teachers who know they can recover much of the curricula that has been lost during
    these months. But the process will take several stages.


    On their end, teachers
    represent the biggest social category to have taken the anti-COVID jab.
    According to official estimates, some 160 thousand teachers got vaccinated so
    far, and the Education Minister said he is planning vaccination caravans in the
    coming period, particularly in rural areas, where the immunization rate among
    teaching staff is still low. (VP)

  • President Klaus Iohannis makes New Year’s address

    President Klaus Iohannis makes New Year’s address

    Romania’s
    president, Klaus Iohannis, said in a New Year’s message, that 2021 was a year
    of great hardship, ups and downs, hope and despair. 2021 was a painful year
    for our country, too many Romanians losing the fight against the coronavirus in
    successive waves of the pandemic. As the year ends, I call on you to direct our
    heartfelt thoughts to the victims’ bereaved families. Let me also express my
    full gratitude towards the medical doctors and assistants, paramedics, ambulance
    workers, pharmacists, volunteers and all essential workers who have been on the
    front line of the fight against the pandemic. They are doing the best they can,
    oblivious to the risks and working to the point of exhaustion, to save lives
    and alleviate the suffering of those who are sick, president Iohannis said.


    The head of
    state also thanked Romanians for the sacrifices they made in 2021, as well as
    for their sense of responsibility and civic duty. Everything we have learned
    about ourselves during this pandemic, the president argues, should inspire us
    and help us overcome future challenges much easier. As a nation, we should
    emerge stronger and closer together from this terrible health crisis. Let us
    usher in 2022 with hope, an open heart and the confidence that all our efforts will
    help us all rejoice and go back to our normal lives. Happy New Year, wherever you
    are! May the New Year bring you happiness, good health and prosperity, the
    president told Romanians in his New Year’s address. (VP)

  • Interview with Miguel Maury Buendia, Apostolic Nuncio in Romania

    Interview with Miguel Maury Buendia, Apostolic Nuncio in Romania

    As the COVID-19 pandemic still rages across the globe and the
    first vaccines having just been rolled out, people all over the world fear
    life as we know it is still one year away. The 2020 holiday season too will be
    unlike any other in modern history, and hope for a Christmas miracle has never
    been more alive. After nine months, pandemic fatigue is real, and keeping one’s
    spirits high for the Christmas celebrations will be no short of a challenge.



    Hope is also the crux of the message the Roman
    Catholic Church conveys for this season’s Christmas and New Year’s
    celebrations. All that and more in this week’s talk with H.E.
    Miguel Maury Buendia, Apostolic Nuncio to Bucharest.

  • State of alert extended

    State of alert extended

    Romania will remain in a state of alert during the holidays period in the context of the new coronavirus pandemic. The decision by which the government extended the state of alert by another 30 days came into force on Monday. The state of alert that has been previously extended several times, was first instated in mid May after Romania had been in a state of emergency for 2 months, as of March 16.



    Under the new government decision, restrictions previously proposed by the Committee for Emergency Situations have been maintained, including the ban on people’s movement after 11 p.m. without a solid reason. A new decision has been added to the previous ones, which refers to the organization and unfolding of activities of cable operators on ski slopes. Although ski slopes remain open, the authorities intend to avoid overcrowding. Also, the restaurants and hotels near ski pistes will operate under the already established conditions.



    In another development, the number of new cases of COVID-19 continues to grow in Romania and new records of COVD-19 related deaths have been reported of late. Also the number of patients in ICUs has grown. The capital Bucharest reports the highest contamination rate and the authorities have warned that pressure is going to increase on the healthcare system in Bucharest and that they might need to continue transferring patients outside Bucharest, to cities where the pressure on the healthcare system is not that high.



    To this end, the head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Secretary of State Raed Arafat, has announced that 500 individual oxygen generators will be distributed to medical units, which will thus be able to treat more COVID-19 patients with oxygen. Although the number of new coronavirus cases is growing in Bucharest by the day, the authorities are not considering quarantining the city, as they argue that the measures in force at the moment are enough.



    There are several localities around Bucharest that have been quarantined though, as they have reported a contamination rate between 7% and 9 % per one thousand inhabitants. The restrictive measures have been extended in other localities across Romania, but in the Sibiu county (center), the authorities decided to lift the quarantine measures, as of Monday, in the city of Sibiu and another 7 surrounding localities, after the rate of infection at county level has dropped from more than 9% to 3.65% per one thousand inhabitants. Hospitals are no longer overcrowded, only half of their capacity for COVID-19 patients being used. Still, intensive care beds are all occupied by patients brought from other counties. (tr. L. Simion)

  • Bucharest Gaming Week 2020

    Bucharest Gaming Week 2020

    With coronavirus-related lockdown restrictions in place all over the world, people, young and old, have turned to video games, anguished and eager to retrieve some sense of their lives before the pandemic.

    The gaming industry has skyrocketed in the second half of the year, game development studios everywhere reporting record-high sales. In the Spotlight this week we take a look at the opportunities this sector has to offer.

    Held over November
    16-22, Bucharest Gaming Week featured over 40 new game launches presented by content
    creators, workshops held by influential streamers and vloggers, interviews with
    managers of local game development studios, art exhibitions of Romanian video
    games, game design and gaming content workshops addressing young students and
    content creators, but also live E-sports competitions.

  • Scenarios for the new school year

    Scenarios for the new school year

    Classes switched
    to online this spring against the backdrop of the coronacrisis. On September 14
    a new school year is about to start. The date is certain, and so if the fact
    that schooling units can opt for one of the three scenarios to organize
    classes. Depending on the evaluation of the National Institute for Public
    Health, schools can choose to call all pupils to school, keep half of them home
    and do the classes online and call half to class to keep everyone at home and
    do classes online. Health Minister Nelu Tataru:


    On September 7,
    the National Institute for Public Health will make public its epidemiological
    assessment for each administrative unit. Right now we have a total of 3.181
    units. Each of these units will be assessed, and the opening of the school year
    will take into account the results. On September 10, the boards of schooling
    units will have to submit the scenario they have opted for to the committees
    for emergency situations for each county and the capital city Bucharest, to
    directorates of public health and schools inspectorates in each county and in
    the capital city Bucharest.


    The Health
    minister said medical staff will perform a triage of pupils upon entry, and
    face masks will be compulsory for teachers and pupils alike. In turn, Education
    Minister Monica Anisie explained the methodology on organizing the activity of
    schooling units for each type of system has been set in place. The Education
    Ministry has also prepared a number of ways to interact with pupils, parents
    and teachers, namely the educaţiacontinuă.edu.ro website and a number of
    telephone lines. Monica Anisie:


    I’ve decided to
    set up a free-of-charge telephone line at the Education Ministry, where parents
    and pupils can call to ask questions. Directors of schooling units and local
    authorities who want to access European funds can call another telephone line
    for support.


    Minister Monica
    Anisie went on to say that each teacher will have to organize his curricula to
    prevent learning gaps at class level. The two ministries have made public a
    joint decree providing for health safety measures to be introduced in schools.
    Physical entry in schools will be spaced-out, using several access points, at
    intervals depending on areas and buildings. Movement inside the building will
    also observe pre-determined routes, while observing the minimum 1-meter
    distance between pupils. The pupils’ health will be assessed during the first
    class.


    (Translated by
    V. Palcu)

  • Scenarios for the new school year

    Scenarios for the new school year

    Classes switched
    to online this spring against the backdrop of the coronacrisis. On September 14
    a new school year is about to start. The date is certain, and so if the fact
    that schooling units can opt for one of the three scenarios to organize
    classes. Depending on the evaluation of the National Institute for Public
    Health, schools can choose to call all pupils to school, keep half of them home
    and do the classes online and call half to class to keep everyone at home and
    do classes online. Health Minister Nelu Tataru:


    On September 7,
    the National Institute for Public Health will make public its epidemiological
    assessment for each administrative unit. Right now we have a total of 3.181
    units. Each of these units will be assessed, and the opening of the school year
    will take into account the results. On September 10, the boards of schooling
    units will have to submit the scenario they have opted for to the committees
    for emergency situations for each county and the capital city Bucharest, to
    directorates of public health and schools inspectorates in each county and in
    the capital city Bucharest.


    The Health
    minister said medical staff will perform a triage of pupils upon entry, and
    face masks will be compulsory for teachers and pupils alike. In turn, Education
    Minister Monica Anisie explained the methodology on organizing the activity of
    schooling units for each type of system has been set in place. The Education
    Ministry has also prepared a number of ways to interact with pupils, parents
    and teachers, namely the educaţiacontinuă.edu.ro website and a number of
    telephone lines. Monica Anisie:


    I’ve decided to
    set up a free-of-charge telephone line at the Education Ministry, where parents
    and pupils can call to ask questions. Directors of schooling units and local
    authorities who want to access European funds can call another telephone line
    for support.


    Minister Monica
    Anisie went on to say that each teacher will have to organize his curricula to
    prevent learning gaps at class level. The two ministries have made public a
    joint decree providing for health safety measures to be introduced in schools.
    Physical entry in schools will be spaced-out, using several access points, at
    intervals depending on areas and buildings. Movement inside the building will
    also observe pre-determined routes, while observing the minimum 1-meter
    distance between pupils. The pupils’ health will be assessed during the first
    class.


    (Translated by
    V. Palcu)

  • Prime Minister Ludovic Orban appears before Parliament

    Prime Minister Ludovic Orban appears before Parliament

    The Liberal Government in Bucharest is preparing an
    economic recovery plan after the coronavirus pandemic, Liberal Prime Minister
    Ludovic Orban said in Parliament, where he was invited to present the measures
    taken so far by his team. The Prime Minister stated that, in the first quarter
    of 2020, Romania reported the biggest economic growth at EU level. Ludovic
    Orban:


    Most Romanian companies and most fields of activity
    remained operational, and the figures speak for themselves. Our data shows that
    in the first quarter Romania had the biggest economic growth. Data for the
    second quarter will reveal that, compared to other countries, Romania’s economy
    fares far better than many are willing to admit.


    Prime Minister Orban added that restrictions in the
    economic field were taken to lower the threat to people’s lives and well-being,
    saying that no construction site was closed down. Evidence of that can be found
    in the structure of economic growth for public investments. As regards the
    hospitality industry, which has been under tremendous pressure during this
    crisis, Ludovic Orban said the Government supports the restart of activity by
    taking active measures, when the epidemiological context will allow it. The
    opposition in Parliament disagrees, claiming the Government’s economic policies
    have made it impossible for thousands of companies to pay their bank
    installments, many of them now on the verge of bankruptcy. The opposition says
    the Government’s support programme addressing SMEs has turned out to be
    inefficient. ProRomania leader Victor Ponta believes the Orban Cabinet in fact
    has no solutions to the present crisis:


    Today Romania’s Parliament must make up for the
    Government’s lack of action and measures. We are talking about the economy, the
    true crisis Romania is already facing and which it will most likely continue to
    face, once the health crisis has passed. Allow me to ask you – will you resign
    willingly or must Parliament remove you from office again?


    In turn, Social-Democrat interim leader Marcel
    Ciolacu has called for concrete actions, the lack of which might trigger a new
    vote of no-confidence:


    You’ve inherited a functional economy, with a 4%
    growth, which you’ve now lowered to 2%. Over 70% of Romanians have money in
    their bank accounts to last them a month. Today, you should have resigned, but
    you lack the dignity to do it, for all the damage you’ve done to this country.


    Other parliamentary groups have asked for concrete
    measures to overcome the economic crisis, calling on the Government to show
    responsibility and engage in a constructive dialogue with its political partners.


    (Translated by V. Palcu)



  • April 20-24

    April 20-24

    The COVID-19
    pandemic in Romania


    The number of
    COVID-19 infections in Romania has exceeded 10,000 this week, with the death
    toll standing above 500. Some 1,000 Romanian citizens living abroad have tested
    positive for coronavirus and a few dozen have died. In another development,
    Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday said that mobility restrictions
    for individuals will be lifted at the end of the state of emergency on May 15.
    Everyone will however have to wear protection masks in enclosed public spaces
    and public means of transportation. All public gatherings will remain
    forbidden. The President warned that Romanians must stay inside until May 15
    and observe the restrictions imposed by the authorities aimed at preventing the
    spread of the coronavirus. President Klaus Iohannis also said that Romanians
    must remain vigilant, as the epidemic is estimated to peak in the first half of
    May. The President insisted the risk of the epidemic rebounding remains high at
    global level, even in areas where it is apparently in check. In turn Prime
    Minister Ludovic Orban said people won’t be needing to sign declarations in
    order to move around the city, although some restrictions will remain in place.
    Social distancing will remain as a rule, gatherings in public places are still
    limited at a maximum number of 3 people. The measure applies to all citizens,
    including seniors, who are able to move around during a two-hour interval at
    noon under the state of emergency.


    The Romanian
    Parliament passed a series of laws to combat the coronavirus pandemic


    The Chamber of
    Deputies in Bucharest on Thursday passed a bill tabled by the Social-Democratic
    Party whereby the spouse or children of medical staff who died fighting the COVID-19
    pandemic will be granted survivor’s benefits. Ion the absence of next of kin,
    their parents will be paid half the amount. The bill was voted by all
    parliamentary parties. Deputies also agreed to paid a 10% bonus to everyone
    paying their taxes on time. The Chamber of Deputies also passed a Government
    decree postponing the payment of loan installments until the end of the year,
    although the bill has undergone substantial changes. The list of beneficiaries
    has been expanded to include everyone with a bank loan, whether or not their
    income has been affected by the pandemic, including people whose payments are
    past due as well as companies whose revenues diminished by 15% during the
    coronavirus crisis. No additional interest rate will be applied. Additionally,
    farmers whose harvests have been compromised this year due to the drought will
    also benefit from a postponement for loan payments up to 18 months. The
    National Liberal Party announced it would challenge the Social-Democrats’ bill
    at the Constitutional Court. The Senate also passed several bills, including
    one that stipulates that parents can take a leave to take care of their
    children, including during school breaks, whenever schools are closed down
    under a state of emergency. The Chamber of Deputies also passed a law extending
    by six-months the term of local officials. The extension period starts the day
    the state of emergency is lifted. Parliament has also set the date for the
    local elections this year. This was previously the Government’s prerogative,
    and the Liberals have announced they would challenge this decision as well.
    Prime Minister Ludovic Orban on Thursday said the local elections slated for
    June might be organized in September, if the first wave of the pandemic passes
    by early July. As regards legislative elections, slated for December, the Prime
    Minister said a larger voter turnout might be secured by introducing postal
    voting in the country as well, in addition to the Diaspora, as well as
    electronic voting.



    The European
    Council presents roadmap for economic recovery


    The 27 leaders
    of the European Union on Thursday called on the European Commission to prepare
    a bailout plan, postponing difficult decisions on solidarity, which southern
    states have been calling on northern states. The plan is bound to include a
    draft budget for 2021-2027, including an economic recovery fund. The plan will
    be presented next month. Although an exact figure hasn’t been stated, officials
    estimate the bailout plan would stand at some 1.5 trillion euros. Representing
    Romania at Thursday’s video-conference was President Klaus Iohannis, who
    expressed support for the creation of an economic recovery fund that would
    benefit all member states. The President said the EU’s financial assistance to
    Romania has so far totaled 1.5 billion euros.


    (Translated by
    V. Palcu)

  • Ambassador for the community

    Ambassador for the community

    As time seems to
    have frozen still, every day comes with more and more initiatives addressing
    students, parents and teachers, in the hope of helping everyone better adapt to
    the crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic and to its long-term effects.


    In order to
    support families in Romania, the Proacta EDU association in partnership with
    the Ministry of Education and Research, the Federation of Free Trade Unions in
    the field of Education and the Federation of Parents’ Associations in pre-University
    Education, have launched the first hotline for psychological counselling during
    the coronavirus pandemic, which will be available once the crisis has passed,
    as part of a project called Ambassador for the Community. Psychologist Nicoleta
    Larisa Albert, the founding president of the Proacta EDU Association, explains:


    It’s a wider
    project. Beyond the awareness-raising campaign, we are a team of teachers and
    parents involved in a concrete project. We’re offering psychological
    counselling to the teaching staff and parents, depending on the case, together
    with our fellow psychologists, who collaborate with our association. We have
    identified the potential of employing teachers as messengers for the community.
    In the current context generated by COVID-19, we strongly believe in the
    utility of this mission. Basically, teachers will become our allies, signaling those
    families that are at risk and redirecting them towards us. We will then provide
    psychological counselling, social and judicial assistance, where required. On
    the other hand teachers can team up with us in finding assertive communications
    alternatives for various situations.


    Confident about
    being able to help people remotely and that we are working to restore people’s
    emotional balance, Nicoleta Larisa Albert also said:


    Ever since we
    launched the association and to this date we’ve received emails, messages,
    phone calls, people asking for psychological counselling. We redirect these
    people to the psychologists we work with. We received questions from 12th-graders
    and requests from teachers who wanted to convey messages to the institutions we
    work with. They wanted recommendations about the current context. We have been
    providing everyone with educational and psychological materials. People have
    understood our message, the fact that we are a community, and we’ve received
    friend requests on our Facebook group, Ambassador for the Community. The door
    is open to everyone, and together with other NGOs and psychologists we will be
    answering all their requests.


    Many questions
    have been asked from the very beginning by senior high school pupils, so
    because of that, we have invited Nicoleta Larisa Albert to tell us what the
    questions are, coming from senior high-school students.


    At any rate,
    the 12th grade poses a challenge to our teenagers, in the context we
    had before COVID-19. And that, apart from the baccalaureate exam, a great many
    questions occur, targeting what is about to happen in the social and economic
    life, so they somehow feel a little bit insecure, apart from their main
    purpose, the Baccalaureate exam, they have a lot many questions about what is
    going to happen afterwards. This context has sort of enhanced uncertainty a
    little bit, a context we haven’t been asking for, actually, we have received it
    and we deal with it. And their questions were like the tip of the iceberg,
    something like that, what is going to happen with the Baccalaureate, when there
    is also an underlying emotion, what will become of me, what shall I choose,
    which direction shall I take, and suchlike. There were pupils who have been
    asking for that, specifically, saying that in the beginning I thought I could
    have more time on my hands for study, then I saw the condition I have grows on
    me, that of anxiety, I just can’t make any sense of what is going on, how I can
    control my emotions, so I might need to talk to a counselor.


    Psychologist
    Nicoleta Larisa Albert, the president of the Proacta EDU Association, offered
    some suggestions as well.


    I believe what
    it mainly does is helping us improve our adaptability. I think that, anyhow, it
    is the most important resource we have at our fingertips, and the only one robots
    cannot copy from us. We can handle the information level as well, we can find
    it everywhere, whether the COVID-19 has spread or not, for the times we live in
    and for their dynamics. Of course we’re also advancing towards that area, the
    online in such a context and we are going to advance towards that even further,
    but we’re going to keep the offline domain, that’s for sure, we need human
    contact, we need to meet people, but they stay there, we have them in our inner
    world, they are still like some anchors and time will come when we’re going to
    return, no one knows when. And then, in the context we cannot control what is
    going to happen, a great many questions occur. And that’s why we are here. We
    are a team and as a team, we learn to grapple with every day just as it is and
    adapt according to the circumstances. Because, the present context may mean
    very different things to different people.


    (Translated by
    V. Palcu & E. Nasta)