Radio România Internațional

Tag: unemployment rates

  • May 30, 2024

    May 30, 2024

    GOVERNMENT – The Romanian Government is today voting an emergency decree to adopt the national program on the digitization of local authorities. The program stipulates specific actions for each local administration, including planning and implementing digital platforms, e-governance services, apps and investments in computer infrastructure and related equipment. The Government says these actions will boost the online availability of digital public services, helping Romania attain 100% online availability of digital services, a digital goal. The Government will also vote an emergency decree on modifying and amending legislation on expropriations caused by public utility. The modifications are required to implement certain objectives of national, county and local interest.

     

     

    INVESTIGATION – Romanian authorities have arrested 13 people suspected of fraud and issuing forged prescriptions for diabetes. One medical nurse, eight drugstore workers and four physicians are targeted by an investigation into the issuance of subsidized drugs, in particular Ozempic, a drug used in the treatment of diabetes, which also causes weight loss. The illegally issued prescriptions were picked up by the suspects’ relatives from 140 pharmacies in Bucharest and Ilfov County. Although they did not have the right to issue them, gynecologists, cardiologists and family physicians issued the prescriptions from private clinics, and the drugs were sold via online platforms to clients all over the country. The prejudice exceeds 200 thousand EUR.

     

     

    PROTEST – Members of the National Federation of Administrative Trade Unions on Thursday protested the Government’s discriminatory salary policies and its refusal to pass fair and proportionate measures with a view to doing away with salary inequities. The trade federation represents employees of local and central authorities. Unionists have recently criticized the draft decree stipulating a 10% salary increase for certain categories of public workers, accusing the government of encouraging salary disparities between similar institutions and of disregarding the actual needs of public sector employees.

     

     

    UNEMPLOYMENT – The unemployment rate went up to 5.3% in April, a 0.1% increase compared to March, the National Statistics Institute reports. Youth unemployment stood at 20.5% for the 15-24 age bracket, although it reported a drop compared to March. Unemployment among the male population is 0.6% higher than the rate among women.

     

     

    MOLDOVA – On the sidelines of his visit to Chișinău, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a 50-mln-USD assistance package designed to help Moldovan authorities bolster  democratic institutions in the face of Moscow’s threats. Another 85 mln USD will be invested to help curb Moldova’s energy dependency on Russia, the US official added. During a press briefing held jointly with the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, Secretary Blinken condemned Moscow’s ingressions into democratic processes in Moldova and its war of aggression against Ukraine. In turn, president Sandu hailed Blinken’s visit, describing it as evidence of the excellent relations between the two countries and a signal of support for peace and democracy.

     

     

    TENNIS – Irina Begu and Ana Bogdan are the only Romanian tennis players still competing in the women’s singles at Roland Garros. In today’s second round, Begu is playing Linda Nosková of Czechia, whereas Bogdan will take on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia.  Bogdan and Begu are also competing in the women’s doubles, alongside other representatives of Romania. (VP)

  • March 31, 2022

    March 31, 2022


    UKRAINE – Ukraine is preparing to fend off a new wave of Russian attacks, president Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier today. The authorities expect Russian attacks in Eastern Ukraine, after the Russian army failed to penetrate Kyiv, as they had originally planned. President Zelensky mentioned a new Russian military build-up in Donbas. In nearly five weeks since the start of the invasion, the Russian army failed to capture any major city, despite sieges and massive shelling, Reuters reports. Moreover, the Russian side has sustained significant losses of troops and equipment. According to the British intelligence, which monitors communications, some Russian soldiers refused to carry out orders, sabotaged their own equipment and accidentally shot down one of their aircraft. Russia is regrouping in order to “liberate” Donbas, a region partially occupied by the two separatist republics that Moscow officially recognized a few days before launching the invasion. Donbas also hosts Mariupol, a city that has seen the most brutal Russian siege in this war. The port city on the Azov Sea has been massively bombed, and practically lies in ruins. Over 5,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed here. 170,000 people are still trapped in the city, with no access to utilities and running short on food and medicine. The Russian invasion has displaced nearly a quarter of Ukraines total population, with four million people reportedly seeking refuge abroad.




    REFUGEES – Over 8,600 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania on Wednesday, up by 4.7% compared to the previous day, the Border Police Inspectorate reports. Since the start of the war, nearly 600,000 Ukrainian citizens arrived in Romania until March 30. Most of these are en route to Western Europe. At present, inspections at every border checkpoint is carried out with the observance of national and international legislation. All stations are working at full capacity.




    VISIT – EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, is paying a two-day visit to Romania. According to the European Commissions Office in Bucharest, during his visit the EU official will express the EUs solidarity with Romania as regards the assistance the latter provides to Ukrainian refugees. Nicolas Schmit will also discuss social reforms and investments stipulated in Romanias Recovery and Resilience Plan, as well as our countrys action plan aimed at implementing the European Child Guarantee. Commissioner Schmit will meet with members of the Government, Parliament, representatives of NGOs and civil society and will visit the venues of two social projects. Nicolas Schmit will also attend a joint meeting of Parliaments Labor and Social Protection Committee and European Affairs Committee.




    EXERCISES – Romanias Naval Forces are taking part in the “Tomis 22” exercise in the Black Sea, aimed at boosting rapid response capabilities in combating mine threats. “Tomis 22” is held at the same time with “Danube Protector 22”, which is carried out on the Danube. Three maritime watercraft, six river gunboats, four auxiliary navy vessels, two mobile coastal battery systems, a Puma naval gunship, a special combat divers unit and a marine infantry regiment are taking part in the two drills, jointly with other structures of the Land Forces. For nine days, over 950 military will coordinate as part of a simulation to repel a naval attack on the Danube river mouths and on Romanias coastal area.




    UNEMPLOYMENT – The unemployment rate in Romania stood at 5.7% in February, while youth unemployment remains high, tantamount to 22%, according to the latest figures published by the National Statistics Institute today. Male unemployment is slightly higher than female unemployment, standing at 6.1% and 5.1% respectively. The total number of unemployed stood at 468 thousand in February. The rate of unemployment for people aged 25-74 stood at 4.6% in February, accounting for 76.6% of the total population.




    CHANGES – Education Minister Sorin Cîmpeanu announced several changes to be operated to the structure of the school year. Therefore, starting this autumn, the two semesters will be replaced by 5 modules separated by breaks. Classes are due to start earlier, on September 5, and will end on June 16. The minister gave assurances that the decision was taken at the end of consultations with experts, representatives of teachers, parents and pupils. Minister Cîmpeanu also said the pre-university regulations will also be reviewed with the aim of eliminating mid-term exams.




    COVID-19 – The WHO has released an updated forecast on the evolution of COVID-19, presenting three possible scenarios. Most likely, the virus will continue to evolve, although the severity of the disease will wane in time, as a result of vaccination. In Romania, over 3,500 new cases of Covid infection were confirmed on Wednesday, in addition to 36 related deaths. Over 2,500 people are treated for COVID-19 in hospitals across Romania, of whom 395 in intensive care. So far, over 8 million Romanians have completed the full anti-Covid vaccination scheme. Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said normal activity will gradually resume in Covid hospitals as the number of infections is expected to drop starting next week. We recall all health safety regulations were lifted in Romania on March 9. (VP)