Romania PM: Public Sector Layoffs Depend On Performance Evaluations, Family Situation

Boc’s statement comes after President Traian Basescu said Thursday that forcing public sector employees to take ten days off without pay is not the right solution, and recommended staff cuts based on performance evaluations.

"Evaluating employees is part of the reforming process in the public sector. The government restructured its agencies and authorities that will lay off over 9,000 employees within public institutions are bound to consider their professional achievements and family situation," Boc said.

Boc explained that if two members of a family work in the same public institution, then, this aspect must be taken into account in order to ensure financial support for these families in times of economic crisis.

Furthermore, Boc stressed that performance evaluations will be the basic principle of the reforming process in the public sector.

Basescu said Thursday, in the southeastern county of Tulcea, that forcing public sector employees to take ten days off without pay is not the right solution and recommended staff cuts based on performance evaluations.

The head of state said institutions in the central and local administration are inefficient and, instead of paying all employees less, he suggested performance evaluations to keep "skillful employees" and oust "weak employees".

On August 11, finance minister Gheorghe Pogea said public sector employees will take unpaid vacations between September and November, will shorten working hours to six from eight per day or simply work ten days less to cut budget spending by 0.3% of GDP.

Ministry sources on Thursday said the normative act that includes the provision forcing public sector employees to take ten days of unpaid vacation will be introduced in the law pack for which the Government will take responsibility in Parliament on September 2.

Prime Minister Emil Boc urged Justice Ministry officials to analyze the legal framework meant to promote this act and bring it in line with the country’s Labor Code and the valid legislation, the quoted sources said.