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Romanian Unionists Told IMF They Oppose 20% Staff Cut In Public Sector

Romanian unionists told the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a meeting on Tuesday that they disagree with a 20% staff cut in the public sector and that the issue should be analyzed in order to maintain the quality of services.
Romanian Unionists Told IMF They Oppose 20% Staff Cut In Public Sector
04 aug. 2009, 13:35, English

The head of "Cartel Alfa" union confederation, Bogdan Hossu, said during the meeting that the policy to "mechanically" reduce a number of employees is not a solution. This measure would turn the system upside down and the country would witness a drop in the quality of services.

IMF representatives agreed that an assessment is required in the public sector to maintain the quality of services, Hossu said.

“We don’t agree with a 20% staff cut. We remember the reorganization in the mining sector in 2007, which was performed mechanically, unprofessionally and led to the multiplication of jobs by two or three times. People were dismissed in August – September and hired in October –November,” Hossu said, adding assessment should be the basis for reorganization.

The head of the National Union Bloc (BNS), Dumitru Costin, said he requested the Government in January to analyze state institutions and to reorganize their staff, to render public administration efficient.

Costin said “the Government wasn’t able from January to August to make assessments and see what costs and what jobs can be cut”. He added a 20% staff cut in the public system would “take people out of the system and relatives of those in power would be hired”.

“The IMF told us elegantly that the evolution of our economy does not allow us to keep wage expenses that we can’t afford,” Costin said.

He pointed out that in the public sector a person fills more than one position and restructuring should begin with such people, which implies reducing expenses and not sacking people.

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Thursday said on public radio last week that the Government should hurry and lay off many public servants working for the state apparatus, suggesting that 20% of them are “useless”.

Basescu said the public sector is overstaffed and has many useless employees, which affects state budget resources.

Unionists said they will organize protests if the authorities resort to a 20% staff cut.