Radio România Internațional

Tag: trade unions

  • Protests staged by trade unions and employers

    Protests staged by trade unions and employers

    Ever since the first days of the year, a number of
    professional and social categories in Romania took to the streets to voice
    their discontent with the way the center-right coalition Government has been
    managing some of the hot topics on the public agenda. Protesters are asking for
    decent wages, fair pensions, quality public services, fair taxes and the
    rightful application of the legislation. Amidst heated political debates
    regarding the 2021 state budget law, trade unions with the Sanitas Federation
    on Monday staged a rally in front of the Finance Ministry building. They are
    disgruntled with the low budget allocated to healthcare this year, which is
    unfair not just due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, but it is also an immoral
    act against Romanian citizens. Trade unions say healthcare should get 9% of the
    GDP, as all Romanians need a public health system that can save them from
    SARS-CoV-2, treat their chronic illnesses and ensure emergency health
    eservices. One of the protesters explained what prompted him to come to
    Bucharest all the way from Cluj.


    We are unhappy with the inequities stipulated in
    the Government’s budget by slashing bonuses or freezing salaries for various
    categories of workers. At the start of its mandate, the Government promised
    they wouldn’t touch the salaries of health workers or their bonuses.


    Equally discontented are workers in the hospitality
    sector. Employers in this field have called on the Government to pay the compensations
    they were promised last year, considering this sector reported a 70% drop in
    its activity. They also ask the Government not to scrap holiday vouchers for
    public sector employees. Dragos Anastasiu, the coordinator of the Coalition for
    Romania’s Development:


    The industry is suffering right now, and we need
    the support of the number one stakeholder in every company, namely the Romanian
    state. We find it unacceptable to make firm promises, including by introducing
    legislation, without keeping them.


    Finally, trade unionists with the Cartel Alfa
    National Confederation have joined the chorus of protests against the
    Government’s current economic and social policies. The unionists have been
    staging protests since January 14. Cartel Alfa representatives say the burden
    of austerity measures will weigh heavy on workers and pensioners, with
    considerable effects on vulnerable population categories with lower incomes.
    (V. Palcu)



  • The government and trade unions reach agreement

    The government and trade unions reach agreement

    After talks between the government and trade unions, the only thing we know for sure is that the strike planned for Friday will no longer be held. Spontaneous protests erupted in April in hospitals around the country. On Monday this week, trade unions also staged a 2-hour warning strike.



    The protests were the result of reforms initiated by the government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats. They promised that salary increases would be so generous that the 15,700 Romanian doctors who are now working abroad will want to come back. Indeed, doctors salaries have increased spectacularly, from several hundred to several thousand euros. Nurses salaries have also benefited from generous increases.



    However, the ministrys decision to cap bonuses to 30% of the basic salary has led to severe drops in the incomes of orderlies, biologists and pharmacists. The healthcare minister Sorina Pintea now says the government will again amend the law on public sector salaries. The changes will only cover the way in which bonuses are granted, the labour minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu has pointed out. She says on-duty time performed by doctors and nurses will no longer be subject to the 30% cap. The positions of midwife and healthcare assistant will be considered equivalent to that of nurses. Specialised hospitals and certain ambulance services will be able to supplement their staffs bonuses in certain situations. The agreement between the government and trade unions also provides that all employees who lost money as a result of the new salary law will be reimbursed. Talks will also resume on the collective employment contract.



    Leonard Barascu, the leader of SANITAS, the most influential trade union in the sector, said the agreement has put an end to the labour conflict. Commentators say, however, that this does not heal the most acute problems in the system: old hospitals with precarious equipment and full of bacteria, shortages of sometimes essential medicine, insufficient medical staff and still unmotivated, if not downright hostile to patients, despite the generous pay rise.



    Patients perception is relevant in this sense. According to a European Commission report, almost 60% of the Romanians who say they are affected by corruption say this phenomenon is most likely to occur in the public healthcare system. The head of the National Anticoruption Directorate Laura Codruta Kovesi confirms that medical services, hospital funding and staff employment and promotion are some of the areas most affected by corruption. Kovesi also gave a few examples: the going bribe is 1,500 euros for a job as an orderly, 2,500 euros for a nurse and 1,000 to drive the ambulance car. Her examples provide support for the voices who say the problem is not that the system is under-funded, but that too much money is lost because of corruption.


    (translated by: Cristina Mateescu)

  • December 12, 2017 UPDATE

    December 12, 2017 UPDATE

    King Michael – King Michaels body will be brought from Lausanne to Romania on Wednesday. The former sovereign died on December 5, at the age of 96, in Switzerland. On Monday Romanias Parliament convened in solemn session to pay tribute to King Michael I. Attending the ceremony were President Klaus Iohannis, Princess Margareta, the Custodian of the Crown of Romania, the former presidents of Romania Emil Constantinescu and Traian Basescu, the PM Mihai Tudose, the speakers of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu and Liviu Dragnea, and the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel. The Romanian authorities have declared December 14, 15 and 16 days of national mourning. King Michael I will be buried on Saturday, December 16 with state honours at Curtea de Arges, where all Romanian kings have been interred.





    World Bank – The President of Romania Klaus Iohannis received in Bucharest on Tuesday a World Bank delegation headed by the vice-president for Europe and Central Asia, Cyril Muller. During the talks, the participants discussed the need to carry on structural reforms in order to strengthen Romanias chances of sustainable economic development. In this respect, the transport infrastructure should be viewed as a top priority of public investments. According to the Presidency, the agenda of the meeting also included the issue of education, on which occasion the head of state stressed the importance of this sector and the need to improve it. The participants also looked at the recent economic developments in Romania, emphasising the need for responsible policies in this field, so that the taxation and budget framework may ensure predictability and stability for the business environment and also that it may cope with prospective risks.





    PROTESTS – The National Union Bloc (BNS), one of the largest trade union organisations in Romania, organised a rally in Bucharest on Tuesday to protest the measures introduced by the new Fiscal Code, particularly the transfer of social security payment obligations from employers to employees as of January 1, 2018. The unionists sought to warn the Government against the negative short, medium and long-term effects generated by this transfer. The National Union Bloc believes the rights of workers to be threatened, and the chances for employment relations based on respect to worsen. The new tax code measures have also been criticised by other trade unions, by the business community and the right-of-centre opposition.




    NATO – The 29 NATO member states Tuesday decided to extend Jens Stoltenbergs term in office as secretary general of the organisation until September 30, 2020. A former prime-minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg has been the NATO secretary general since October 1, 2014. He was originally elected for 4 years, replacing Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark. Romania has been a NATO member since 2004.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • November 4, 2017 UPDATE

    November 4, 2017 UPDATE

    UNIONS – The “Solidaritatea Sanitara union federation announces its opposition to the Governments plan to transfer the payment of social security contributions from employers to employees, and says it will join the all-out strike planned by the countrys main union confederations. Previously, trade union federations Frăţia, Cartel Alfa and the National Union Bloc had voiced fears that this transfer would entail a drop in salaries and the loss of jobs. In turn, employer associations say that should this measure be implemented, they will have to lay off employees, while the National Liberal Party in opposition announced it would notify the Constitutional Court unless the Government gave up these plans. President Klaus Iohannis described the Governments initiative as fiscal confusion through which average gross salaries would only go up by a rough 70 eurocents. In response, PM Mihai Tudose and his Social Democratic Party chief, Liviu Dragnea, say they do not understand the opposition to the measures announced for next year, given that in fact both employers and employees would stand to gain. The Cabinet postponed to Monday the meeting in which the new provisions were to be discussed, on grounds that some of the bills on the agenda had not received all the required approvals.




    BY-ELECTIONS – The town of Deva, in western Romania, as well as 16 villages in 12 counties hold by-elections on Sunday. 16 localities elect their mayors, and a village will elect its local council. In Deva, the mayor position has been vacant since the former mayor, Mircia Muntean, re-elected to office last summer, was sentenced to six months in prison for abuse of office and DUI.




    HEALTHCARE – The Romanian healthcare and tourism ministries will work together to come up with medical tourism packages. The announcement was made by the Healthcare Minister Florian Bodog at a medical tourism conference in Bucharest. The healthcare services in the highest demand from foreign patients in Romania are dental treatments, spa treatments, and plastic surgery, Bodog explained. He added that the Government is working to adopt the public-private partnership bill, which will allow foreign partners to invest in Romania, including in the healthcare sector. The Romanian official added that he had already received offers from foreign investors interested in setting up hospitals and cardiovascular surgery and recovery centres.




    CAMPAIGN – MEP Cătălin Ivan has announced he intends to start a signature campaign to ban bearer shares in Romania. Such shares, which are not registered, may be transferred from one holder to another without tax and accounting records. Ivan argues that this enables civil servants to own stock in companies that are awarded public procurement or service contracts, without any means of combating corruption. According to official data there are around 400 companies in Romania having issued bearer shares, and most of them have been awarded government contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros. Bearer shares have already been banned in countries like the UK, Belgium, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Malta and Cyprus.




    PUIGDEMONT – Belgian authorities announced having received the international arrest warrant issued by Spain against the ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and 4 members of his secessionist cabinet. The source added that prosecutors would study the documents before submitting them to a judge. The five Catalan ministers arrived in Brussels this week, after Spain issued an arrest warrant for sedition. Puigdemont insists that he is not in Belgium to escape justice, and that he is facing a potential 30-year prison sentence for keeping his promise to his voters. A Spanish court approved the arrest after the five failed to appear in court on Thursday to respond to accusations regarding the Catalan independence declaration. Before the arrest warrants were issued, the European Commission said the trial of the Catalan separatists was for the judiciary to settle.




    HANDBALL – The Romanian womens handball team CSM Bucharest beat the Danish side Nykobing at home, 39-26, in the 4th round of Champions League Group A, making up for the surprising defeat they had sustained two weeks ago, in Denmark, 22-25. In the first 2 games in Group A, the Romanians defeated Krim Ljubljana of Slovenia and Vistal Gdynia of Poland, and are now qualified into the main group stage. Romanias target in the current competition season is to reach the Champions League Final Four.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • The Week in Review, October 30 – November 5

    The Week in Review, October 30 – November 5

    Controversy over the salary system in Romania


    Two government projects due to be implemented next year have generated vehement reactions in Romania. The projects in question are the new salary scheme for public sector employees and the changes to the fiscal code. President Klaus Iohannis says the fiscal measures announced by the government such as transferring the payment of social security contributions to employees and a cut on income tax, will complicate problems instead of solving them. He has asked the ruling coalition to show responsibility and drop these fiscal policies, which, he says, will generate mistrust. The president says that while the country is seeing a period of economic growth, this growth is based on consumption, and has warned that public and private investments have dropped significantly compared to the same period last year. Trade unions have also criticised the governments plans. The most vocal of critics, the leader of the Cartel Alfa trade union confederation, Bogdan Hossu, has warned that the plans to amend the fiscal code is flawed and may lead to lower incomes for 2 million employees. CNSRL Fratia has said it will start gathering signatures among its members for a general strike, while the National Union Bloc warns there is no certainty that net salaries will remain the same as long as there is no obligation for employers to increase gross salaries to make up for the amount of social security contributions to be paid by employees under the new government plan. Employer associations have shied away from entering the open conflict between the government and trade unions. However, business people have advised the government to think things deeply and not to take rush decisions, whose impact has not been sufficiently assessed.



    The two-year commemoration of the Colectiv fire


    On the 30th of October, Romania commemorated 2 years since a tragic fire broke out at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest in which 64 people were killed and more than 100 injured. The Colectiv association formed in the wake of the fire staged a commemorative Guitar March and concerts. Several hundred people took part in the march, walking in silence and wearing white T-shirts printed with the photographs of the victims and carrying candles and flowers. Radio Romania broadcast a programme entitled “64 inspired by the tragedy at Colectiv and a commemoration event was held in Cluj Napoca, in the west, to protest against the delays in the trial. A court case began again the clubs owners, the former sector mayor and employees of the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations for failing to take measures despite the fact that the club did not have a fire safety authorisation. Quite a lot of voices claim little has changed in the two years since the tragic event. In their defense, the authorities say the number of fire safety permit requests has gone up by nearly 85%. We recall that the Colectiv nightclub tragedy was followed by wide street protests against the Government and local authorities, which led to the demise of Victor Pontas Cabinet.



    The crisis in Catalonia


    Romania has reasserted its firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Spain, refusing to acknowledge the unilateral declaration of independence of Catalonia. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Spain is an important ally and strategic partner of Romania and has good bilateral, regional and international relations with this country. The legitimacy of any process or action pertaining to the interior state of affairs of a country consists in its full conformity with the countrys Constitution and rule of law, the document also reads. In this context, Romania has argued in favour of observing international law, which forbids any territorial modifications without the consent of the state in question. The Ministry for Romanians Worldwide has also announced it was monitoring the developments in Catalonia very closely. According to a communiqué the Ministry released at the time the referendum on the regions independence was held, a task force monitoring the events has been in permanent contact with Romanian associations, parishes and diplomatic missions, in order to assess the real-time situation of the over 130,000 Romanians who live in Catalonia right now.



    FCSB advances to the Europa League round of 32


    Romanias vice champions FCSB have qualified to the round of last 32 in Europa League after drawing 1-all at home against Hapoel Beer Sheva of Israel in the fourth round of Group G. FCSB has 10 points and tops the league tables, followed by Viktoria Plezen of the Czech Republic with 6 points. The Czech team defeated Lugano of Switzerland 4-1 in Thursdays other group fixture. Hapoel and Lugano are 3rd and 4th respectively, both with 3 points. Romania will next play Viktoria Plezen away from home and needs a win to preserve the top spot in the group standings.

  • Controversies related to the salary system in Romania

    Controversies related to the salary system in Romania

    Two controversial government bills, one on salaries in the public sector and the other on the modification of the Fiscal Code, will take effect in 2018, and employees fear that the measures have not received proper consideration from the leftist governing coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats. These days, the social dialogue between government and trade unions has come to a standstill. The most vocal critic of the proposed measures, the Cartel Alfa leader, Bogdan Hossu, has warned that the bill on amending the Fiscal Code, which transfers from employers to employees the obligation of paying the social security contributions, is quite flawed and can endanger the situation of 2 million employees who might incur losses in terms of their net income.



    Cartel Alfa has called for the resignation of the labor minister, Lia Olguţa Vasilescu, whom they accuse of disinformation and lying as regards the effects of the proposed measures. The trade union organization also claims that Minister Vasilescu has drafted one of the worst public salary laws, which does nothing but deepen inequities and imbalances in the public sector. In reply, Minister Vasilescu caustically urged trade unionists to learn some math while giving assurances that the new fiscal provisions will not lead to a drop in salaries. She also leveled criticism against the Cartel Alfa leader, Bogdan Hossu:



    “Mr. Hossu is always interpreting our decisions in his own way. He did the same with the declarations of the employers’ associations’ representatives. When asked by the prime minister, the employers’ associations’ representatives said clearly that they did not intend to decrease salaries”.



    Another important trade union organization, the National Trade Union Bloc, draws attention to the fact that there is no certainty about maintaining the level of net salaries at the level prior to the implementation of the aforementioned measure, given that there is no law forcing employers to increase gross salaries by the amount of the social security contributions which they have paid to the state budget until now. Employers associations avoid getting involved in the conflict between the government and trade unions. However, blocking social dialogue is not a solution, and businesspeople recommend the government pay more attention to the issue and not hurry to take measures whose potential impact was not assessed properly. Dragoş Anastasiu is the representative of the employers’ association entitled the Coalition for the Development of Romania:



    “Let’s have a genuine dialogue and give ourselves a 3- or 4-month period to analyze the measures and to make an impact study which has not been made. We need to reach consensus. Romania has reported economic growth, therefore there is no need for hasty measures.”



    The Coalition for the development of Romania says the business environment has not asked for this measure of transferring the obligation of paying social security contributions from employers to employees. Moreover, they believe that this measure could lead to an increase in the level of gross salaries, which might make Romania totally uncompetitive in comparison to other states. (Translated by L. Simion)

  • October 6, 2017 UPDATE

    October 6, 2017 UPDATE

    UNIONS – Trade unions Friday failed to reach an agreement with the Government in Bucharest over demands to give up the planned transfer of social security payment obligations from employers to employees. The head of the Cartel Alfa trade union confederation, Bogdan Hossu, said the Government was not interested in finding another solution and insisted instead on keeping this measure in place, which, Hossu argued, would lead to a fall in salaries. Taking part in the talks were also the trade unions in the healthcare sector, which demand, among other things, changes in the law on public sector salaries and the reintroduction of meal vouchers as of January 1.



    NATO – Romania will remain a responsible and active member of the North-Atlantic Alliance, the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Meleşcanu said on Friday during a meeting with the head of NATOs Parliamentary Assembly, Paolo Alli. Romania is one of the most important partners of NATO and Euro-Atlantic security, Alli said on the other hand, at the opening conference of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting held for 4 days in Bucharest. Not only has Romania managed to invest 2% of its GDP into defence, but it also contributes to the missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, and has implemented ballistic missile defence systems, the NATO official mentioned. Taking part in the 63rd annual meeting of the NATO PA are more than 50 delegations from NATO member or partner countries. The main topics approached are the Alliances operations in Afghanistan, the NATO — EU relations, security at the Black Sea, the situation in East Asia and the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq.



    SPAIN – The Government of Spain Friday asked Catalonia to dissolve its parliament and to hold regional elections in order to overcome the crisis dividing the country. Previously, the Catalan Foreign Minister, Raul Romeva, had said the Parliament of Catalonia would convene on Monday to decide on the unilateral proclamation of the regions independence. On Thursday the Constitutional Court of Spain suspended a session of the regional legislative body. Meanwhile on Thursday the PM of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, said the only solution to resolve the conflict was for Catalonia to give up its plan to declare its independence, and return to what he called “legality. In turn, the European Commission senior vice-president Frans Timmermans called for dialogue and reiterated that the dispute was a matter of Spanish domestic politics.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • September 26, 2017 UPDATE

    September 26, 2017 UPDATE

    FUNDS – European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu has approved investment of almost 200 million euros in fast railway connections in Romania, according to a release of the European Commission Office in Bucharest. Some 198.2 million euros from the European Regional Development Fund will be invested in the modernisation of the rail connection between the localities Coslariu and Simeria, in central Romania, thus allowing for trains to circulate at speeds of 120 to 160 km per hour.




    UKRAINE — The Romanian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday in a release that it regrets the fact that, in spite of steps taken by the Romanian authorities, who signalled the Ukrainian side that the new education law restricts significantly the rights of the Romanian minority in this country, President Petro Poroshenko has promulgated this law. Earlier of Tuesday Ukraine’s Ambassador to Romania, Oleksandr Bankov said that none of the schools in the language of national minorities would be closed down or their teachers fired but pointed out that the new education law provides for tuition exclusively in the Ukrainian language starting with the 5th grade. Parliament in Romania has unanimously adopted a statement calling for an immediate solution from Kiev, while president Iohannis has cancelled a visit he planned to Kiev in protest against the aforementioned law. The Education Ministers of Romania and Ukraine will hold talks so that the Romanian minority in Ukraine should have access to education in their mother tongue. The Romanian minority in Ukraine numbers almost half a million people.




    PARLIAMENT — MPs with the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Save Romanian Union (USR) in opposition, filed a simple motion against the Transport Minister, the Social Democrat Razvan Cuc. The motion’s signatories, entitled Romania’s Transport Infrastructure Serves the Interests of the Social Democratic Party signal the bad management, lack of proffessionalism and the political influence at the Transport Ministry. They also argue that the recent budget revision halved the ministry’s funds and that major infrastructure projects such as the Sibiu-Pitesti, Transylvania and Targu Mures- Iasi-Ungheni motorways have long exceeded their deadline for completion. The simple motion will be discusssed in the Chamber of Deputies next Tuesday with a final vote to be held on Wednesday.




    CORRUPTION – The Romanian Senate’s Legal Committee on Tuesday rejected the request of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) to start the prosecution of the Minister for the Relation with Parliament, Viorel Ilie. It is the Senate, however, that will have a final say on the matter. Minister Viorel Ilie, representing the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, together with three employees of the institution, is accused of having “arranged” a contest for hiring public servants on contractual positions. Another two top members of the Government, the deputy Prime Minister Sevil Shhaideh, who is also the Minister of Regional Development, and the Minister Delegate for European Funds Rovana Plumb, both members of the Social Democratic Party are being prosecuted for corruption.




    ROMANIANS IN THE UK — Romanians living and working in the UK will preserve their rights and liberties, Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu today told Radio Romania. Minister Melescanu discussed this topic with the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson during the latter’s visit to Bucharest on Monday. The two officials also discussed about the new registry system for people who want to travel to the UK, which Minister Melescanu believes should not jeopardize the rights of people living, working or studying in the United Kingdom. In turn, Boris Johnson told AGERPRES news agency that Romanians in the UK should not be concerned about their future after Brexit, as they are valuable members of British society. Boris Johnson went on to say that the UK wants to keep the nearly half a million Romanians living in this country, wants to make them feel safe and to assure them that their rights are being protected.




    TRADE UNIONS — One of the largest trade union confederations in Romania, Cartel Alfa, is this week staging a series of protests in several cities across the country. The trade union requests all social security taxes to no longer be passed onto employees and wants to start negotiations over signing collective employment agreements at all levels. Trade unionists say transferring social security contributions to the employees will reduce their net income, liquidate the unemployment fund and lower contributions to the pension fund. The first protests were staged on Monday in several cities. According to Cartel Alfa, a large protest will be staged in Bucharest, on October 4.




    LAW ENFORCEMENT — Three Romanian police officers are taking part in an international effort to strengthen and develop the intervention capacity of the local law enforcement authorities in Georgia and Cyprus. Two officers are participating in the EU mission to Georgia and another one is part of the UN mission to Cyprus. The Romanian Police is carrying out crime prevention and combating activities jointly with the local authorities, providing humanitarian aid and taking part in missions aimed at keeping public order. So far 37 Romanian police officers are involved in 10 international missions on four continents under the coordination of the EU, the UN and the OSCE. The first mission they ever took part in was the one in Kosovo in 1998.


    (Translated by Elena Enache)



  • September 26, 2017

    September 26, 2017

    UKRAINE — The Education Ministers of Romania and Ukraine will hold talks so that the Romanian minority in Ukraine should have access to education in their mother tongue, Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu has told Radio Romania. The announcement came after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ratified the controversial education law restricting the rights of national minorities to education in their mother tongue. The law allegedly improves the teaching process and will help the country join the European Union. Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece and the Republic of Moldova, all having large groups of ethnics in Ukraine, have criticized the provisions of the law.



    TRADE UNIONS — One of the largest trade union confederations in Romania, Cartel Alfa, is this week staging a series of protests in several cities across the country. The trade union requests all social security taxes to no longer be passed onto employees and wants to start negotiations over signing collective employment agreements at all levels. Trade unionists say transferring social security contributions to the employees will reduce their net income, liquidate the unemployment fund and lower contributions to the pension fund. The first protests were staged on Monday in several cities. According to Cartel Alfa, a large protest will be staged in Bucharest on October 4.



    LAW ENFORCEMENT — Three Romanian police officers are taking part in an international effort to strengthen and develop the intervention capacity of the local law enforcement authorities in Georgia and Cyprus. Two officers are participating in the EU mission to Georgia and another one is part of the UN mission to Cyprus. The Romanian Police is carrying out crime prevention and combating activities jointly with the local authorities, providing humanitarian aid and taking part in missions aimed at keeping public order. So far 37 Romanian police officers are involved in 10 international missions on four continents under the coordination of the EU, the UN and the OSCE. The first mission they ever took part in was the one in Kosovo in 1998.



    ROMANIANS IN THE UK — Romanians living and working in the UK will preserve their rights and liberties, Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu today told Radio Romania. Minister Melescanu discussed this topic with the the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson during the latter’s visit to Bucharest on Monday. The two officials also discussed about the new registry system for people who want to travel to the UK, which Minister Melescanu believes should not jeopardize the rights of people living, working or studying in the United Kingdom. In turn, Boris Johnson told AGERPRES news agency that Romanians in the UK should not be concerned about their future after Brexit, as they are valuable members of British society. Boris Johnson went on to say that the UK wants to keep the nearly half a million Romanians living in this country, wants to make them feel safe and to ensure them that their rights are being protected.



    TENNIS –WTA no. 2 Simona Halep today lost to Daria Kasatkina of Russia 6-2, 6-1, in second round of the Wuhan tournament in China, totalling 2.6 million dollars in prize money. Seeded second in the main draw, Simona Halep played last year’s semi-finals. Also today Sorana Cirstea, 46 WTA, lost 6-3, 6-3 to Qiang Wang of China, WTA no. 55.



    FOOTBALL — Romania’s only representative in European football competitions, FCSB, on Thursday is playing Lugano of Switzerland away from home in Europa League. In the first fixture of Group G, two weeks ago, Steaua won 3-nil against Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic at home. In the other Group game, Hapoel Beer Sheva of Israel defeated Lugano 2-1. FCSB tops the group tables with three points, followed by Hapoel. (Translated by V. Palcu)

  • New pay rises expected soon

    New pay rises expected soon

    Several categories of public sector employees whose salaries have not been increased in a long time will get more money soon, according to a draft law passed by the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday. The document stipulates, among other things, pay rises for the staff of university libraries, the Agriculture and Culture ministries, for a part of the healthcare employees, military staff in service and civilian staff working with the Defense Ministry. Labor Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu gives us more details:



    “The military staff will see a 15% increase in salaries, just like the staff of university libraries. Also, the state secretariat for revolutionaries will get 20% more, just like the staff of the institutions subordinated to the Agriculture Ministry, researchers with institutions subordinated to the Academy of Forestry and Agriculture, the sports clubs’ and student’s houses employees and expert doctors. Starting January 1, 2018 we will take into account the increases operated this year until the month of December. “



    The Liberal MPs voted in favor of the project while the National Liberal Party’s interim president, Raluca Turcan, has pointed out that all pay rises adopted were amendments made by the Liberals, included initially in the unified pay bill recently adopted by Parliament. Raluca Turcan:



    “Where is honesty? Where is responsibility? Can we even mention them if the high-ranking officials’ salaries go up while teachers and doctors are deceived?”



    On the other hand, the labor minister has said that the draft law provides for pay rises for the categories of public sector employees that have not seen any increases this year and has dismissed the accusation that it’s only high-ranking officials that get more money. Last week, Lia Olguta Vasilescu announced that the pay rises for all public sector employees would no longer be applied as of July 1, as scheduled, but as of January 1, 2018. Statistics show that the salaries of Romanian employees have gone up by an average 13.4% this year, to around 520 euros in the month of April. According to the National Statistics Institute, the most important pay rise was applied to the doctors’ salaries, which went up by 36%. Employees in the IT sector top the list of best-paid employees. The insufficient staff, the increase in the minimum salary and the pay rises in the public sector are the main factors that triggered a significant increase in the salaries of Romanian employees. (Translated by E. Enache)

  • On the unified pay law

    On the unified pay law

    Following heated debates, the controversial unified pay bill assumed by the leftist government in Bucharest has been eventually green-lighted. Questions over the bill had emerged after the labor minister, Lia Olguta Vasilescu, announced that pay rises for all public sector employees would no longer be applied as of July 1, as scheduled, but as of January 1, 2018. She explained that there were many amendments accepted by Parliament, which would have exceeded the amount of 32 billion lei, that is 7 billion euros, provided for this purpose for the period 2017-2022.



    In comparison with the initial version of the bill, pay rises in the healthcare and education systems in Romania have been postponed, therefore doctors, nurses and teachers will receive the promised integral pay rises as of March 2018 and not as of January 1. The postponement was needed to allow for the financial support of the bill, explained the Finance Minister Viorel Stefan. Further modifications have been brought to the unified pay bill, among which increments of 10% for teachers for neuropsychological stress and 55% increments for public servants in charge of managing European funds.



    In exchange, the 40% increase for military staff, policemen and public servants with a special status that need to intervene outside the normal work schedule was eliminated. Although they are included in the public sector employees category, elected officials will nevertheless benefit from pay rises as of July 1 this year. The labor minister explains:



    “Salaries in the education system will be increased by 15%, in the healthcare system by 15%, in the local administration by 20%. Last month there was a 20% increase for the employees of environment agencies, the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, the Consumers’ Protection Agency and now, as of July 1, there will be a new pay scale not only for elected officials but also for the employees of the local public administration.”



    Taken by surprise and discontented with the announced postponement of pay rises, trade unionists with the Cartel Alfa Confederation are asking for rises to be applied for all public sector employees. In turn, the main opposition party, the National Liberal Party, has criticized the unified pay bill, accusing the government and the majority coalition, made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, of being incoherent. The Save Romania Union in opposition has equally claimed that the bill is a reason of discontent for all categories of public sector employees and calls for the resignation of the labor minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu. (Translated by L. Simion)

  • Teachers’ protests

    Teachers’ protests

    The Romanian education sector has long been faced with many problems generated mainly by under-funding. Those problems are well-known, and the entire political class has been trying, at least in words, to find solutions for tens of years. All the more so as the problems in the system have negative repercussions on children’s education.



    Children are our only hope for a better future, said Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, adding he would like to lay solid foundations in terms of several essential aspects, such as performance in education, equal chances for all children irrespective of their background and access to high-quality medical services.



    “I want Romania to become a country where raising a child should be about helping them find their way in life and using their talents in the best possible way, and not about worrying about tomorrow, as it unfortunately happens in the case of some parents”, the Prime Minister also said. In an attempt to address the problems in the public sector, including the education sector, the government plans to adopt a new pay scheme to eliminate discrepancies between salaries.



    Dissatisfied with the draft emergency ordinance in this area, teachers took to the streets in Bucharest on Wednesday. More than 10,000 of them gathered in front of the government building and then left on foot to the president’s office at the Cotroceni Palace to request the support of president Klaus Iohannis, who was himself a teacher by training. Previously, teachers had demanded pay rises of at least 10% this year, but only obtained the promise of a 5% increase as of August 1st. Labour Minister Dragos Paslaru said he wanted to give teachers a more substantial pay rise but the government did not have the funds this year. Dragos Paslaru:



    “We are aware of the problems in the education system. We care about education. However, the government’s hands are tied because its resources are limited. We believe this emergency ordinance aimed at correcting some of the problems in the sector contains some good things in that it will create a fairer pay scheme in the sector, but it is only a first step. This move should be followed by a unitary salary law to introduce national level salaries for all categories of employees”.



    Dragos Paslaru said he would try to hold one last round of talks with the trade unions in the education system.


    (Translated by C. Mateescu)

  • Teachers’ protests

    Teachers’ protests

    The Romanian education sector has long been faced with many problems generated mainly by under-funding. Those problems are well-known, and the entire political class has been trying, at least in words, to find solutions for tens of years. All the more so as the problems in the system have negative repercussions on children’s education.



    Children are our only hope for a better future, said Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, adding he would like to lay solid foundations in terms of several essential aspects, such as performance in education, equal chances for all children irrespective of their background and access to high-quality medical services.



    “I want Romania to become a country where raising a child should be about helping them find their way in life and using their talents in the best possible way, and not about worrying about tomorrow, as it unfortunately happens in the case of some parents”, the Prime Minister also said. In an attempt to address the problems in the public sector, including the education sector, the government plans to adopt a new pay scheme to eliminate discrepancies between salaries.



    Dissatisfied with the draft emergency ordinance in this area, teachers took to the streets in Bucharest on Wednesday. More than 10,000 of them gathered in front of the government building and then left on foot to the president’s office at the Cotroceni Palace to request the support of president Klaus Iohannis, who was himself a teacher by training. Previously, teachers had demanded pay rises of at least 10% this year, but only obtained the promise of a 5% increase as of August 1st. Labour Minister Dragos Paslaru said he wanted to give teachers a more substantial pay rise but the government did not have the funds this year. Dragos Paslaru:



    “We are aware of the problems in the education system. We care about education. However, the government’s hands are tied because its resources are limited. We believe this emergency ordinance aimed at correcting some of the problems in the sector contains some good things in that it will create a fairer pay scheme in the sector, but it is only a first step. This move should be followed by a unitary salary law to introduce national level salaries for all categories of employees”.



    Dragos Paslaru said he would try to hold one last round of talks with the trade unions in the education system.


    (Translated by C. Mateescu)

  • June 1, 2016

    June 1, 2016

    SEECP – Romanian prime minister, Dacian Ciolos, is today participating in neighbouring Bulgaria in a meeting of the SEECP heads of state and government. The meeting of the South East European Cooperation Process, SEECP, is held in Sofia, which is holding the rotating presidency of the organisation and has a special significance, as it marks the 20th anniversary of this regional cooperation body, made up of 12 countries. The focal points on the agenda of the meeting are the latest developments at regional level and the European perspective of the West Balkan countries. On the sidelines of the meeting, the Romanian prime minister is due to meet his Bulgarian counterpart, Boyko Borissov.



    PROTEST MARCH – Trade unions in education are today participating in Bucharest in a march of protest against the pay scheme in the Romanian education sector. The organisers say they estimate some 15 thousand will take part in the protest, among which pupils and their parents. The protesters are demanding that 6% of the GDP be allocated to education, as is actually stipulated in the national education law. The unionists say that such a budget will allow for increasing grants for pupils and students, for reimbursing shuttle expenses and for properly equipping schools. The decision to take to the streets was made by the trade unionists after Mondays negotiations with the government ended with no results.



    SECURITY ALERT – The European Football Championship due between June 10 and July 10 in France might be a target of attacks by Islamist militants, the US warns. It is estimated that over one million football fans will attend the Championships, and according to the US Department of State, they might be considered targets by terrorists. A state of emergency has already been instated in France, in the wake of last years attacks in Paris, claimed by Islamists. The string of attacks hit Stade de France, the Bataclan concert hall, bars and restaurants. The toll stood at 130 dead and scores of injured. In March, 32 people died in Belgium, in two suicide bombings which targeted the Brussels airport and a metro station.



    RESCUE MISSIONS – Over 1,700 people have been rescued from drowning in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas by ships belonging to the Romanian Border Police since the start of 2016, the General Border Police Inspectorate has announced. Representatives of the aforementioned institution say that late last week, the Romanian ship “Stefan cel Mare was detached to the Aegean Sea. For a month and a half, during Operation “Poseidon Rapid Intervention, the Romanian border policemen are participating in surveillance, control, rescue and search missions, on the EUs external borders, alongside the other EU member states. This is the second international mission carried out by the “Stefan cel Mare ship. The first one ended in April in Italy, where for three months, Romanian border policemen rescued 990 people from drowning in the Mediterranean.



    BOOKFEST– The best known titles of the moment, proposed by over 200 publishing houses are featured in Bucharest, between June 1 and 5, during the 11th edition of the Bookfest International Book Fair. This years honorary guest is Israel, which participates in the fair under the motto, “Never Stop Dreaming. With an offer of no less than 30 events, Israel invites the Romanian public to meet prominent names of contemporary Israeli literature, among whom Zeruya Shalev, Fania Oz-Salzberger, Meir Shalev and Dror Mishani.



    TIFF– Workshops and meetings with professionals in the field are held concurrently with film screenings, special events and concerts at the Transylvania International Film Festival in Cluj Napoca, western Romania. Until June 5, debut films, thrillers and love stories from the far corners of the world try to impress the jury of the festival. The 12 films which are running for the Transylvania Trophy come from 16 countries in Europe and Australia, and-as a première- from the Republic of Vanuatu, a Pacific island nation. The only Romanian film in the TIFF 2016 competition is “Dogs by budding director Bogdan Mirica, who grabbed the critics prize in Cannes. The prize will be offered by the world famous actress Sophia Loren, in the gala closing the festival.


    (Translated by Diana Vijeu)

  • May 31, 2016 UPDATE

    May 31, 2016 UPDATE

    THREATS The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, says the recent statements made by Moscow are inaccurate, and emphasised that the anti-missile platform in Deveselu does not target Russia. Such ungrounded threats reconfirm that Romania’s approach, namely to strengthen NATO security in response to Moscow’s stance in the Black Sea region, is the right one, Iohannis said in Bucharest on Tuesday, upon opening the Black Sea Security Programme. On Saturday, the Romanian Foreign Ministry expressed its surprise with the statements of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, who said Romania might be in the sight of Russian rockets because it hosts elements of the American missile defence system. These statements, said the Foreign Ministry, may be read as a threat to regional security.



    HEXI PHARMA DNA tests have confirmed that Dan Condrea, owner of Hexi Pharma company, which is the protagonist of a huge scandal about the diluted disinfectants used in the Romanian hospitals, was in the car that on May 23rd crashed into a tree close to Bucharest, the General Prosecutor’s Office announced on Tuesday. The prosecutors have confirmed the DNA samples taken from the car indeed belong to Condrea’s body. Concurrently with the investigation of his death, prosecutors are carrying on another investigation in the case of the diluted disinfectants used in hospitals around Romania. Currently under house arrest, the company’s general director, Flori Dinu, has been charged with fraud and thwarting disease control. According to prosecutors, Dinu coordinated the entire personnel who promoted the Hexi Pharma products and concluded contracts with hospitals although she knew the products didn’t have the concentration mentioned on the label. Legal sources, quoted by the press, say Dinu is facing a 30-year prison sentence. Production manager Mihai Leva is also facing penal prosecution. Hexi Pharma has caused over 6 million euros in prejudices over the past 4 years.



    FOOTBALL Romania’s football representative is in Bucharest training for their friendly on Friday against the Georgian selection, the last before the European Championships in France. Last week during their training session in Italy, Romania was held to a one-all draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo and lost 3-4 to Ukraine. At Euro 2016, Romania will be playing France in the opening game on June 10th. Their group also includes Switzerland and Albania. In the next season, Romania will have five sides in the European cups. Champion Astra Giurgiu and vice-champions Steaua Bucharest will be playing in the Champions League, while Pandurii Targu Jiu, Viitorul Constanta and CSMS Iasi will be playing in the Europa League.



    MEETING Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos on Wednesday will be participating in the meeting of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Bulgaria. Staged by Bulgaria, which is currently holding the presidency of this body, the meeting has a special significance as it marks two decades since the setting up of this regional cooperation structure, which brings together 12 countries. High on the agenda will be latest regional developments and the European prospects of the countries in the Western Balkans. On the sidelines of this meeting, the Romanian Prime Minister is expected to be meeting his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borissov.



    PROTEST Trade unions in Romania’s education system are staging a protest rally in Bucharest on Wednesday asking for better pay. Organizers are expecting 15 thousand participants including students and parents. The protesters are chiefly calling for the allocation of 6% of the GDP for education as the National Education Law stipulates. Trade unions believe that such a budget will allow higher scholarships, reduced travel fees for commuting students and improve the process of fitting schools with the right equipment. The decision for this rally has been made after negotiations with the government failed on Monday.