Romania’s Railroad Company CFR Marfa Prolongs Technical Unemployment By 3 Months

Popa said that in the June - September interval, the first three months of technical unemployment at CFR Marfa, each employee received an average of 26 off-work days.

Popa said the decision to prolong technical unemployment was made to reduce costs, adding the activity at CFR Marfa will not be disturbed.

Union leader Viorel Istrate told MEDIAFAX Sunday the employees from CFR Marfa will enter technical unemployment for 21 days.

This measure was taken as the work volume decreased drastically compared to 2008, said Istrate, adding all the 1,800 at CFR Marfa Galati will enter Monday technical unemployment for 21 days and will receive 75% of their wages.

Former director of CFR Marafa Calin Gratian said late July CFR Marfa could prolong technical unemployment according to the country's economic evolution, as the division's activity decreased to a half compared to 2008.

According to Gratian, extending the technical unemployment period is the most advantageous measure for CFR Marfa's employees.

Early July, around 7,000 of CFR Marfa's 17,500 employees were put on technical unemployment until September.

Romania will fire more than 10,300 railway sector employees, who will get double the average net wage per economy as severance, unemployment aid and monthly severance pay for 20 to 24 months, depending on seniority, according to a draft decree drawn up by the Transport Ministry.

Most jobs will be cut at the freight division of the state-owned railroad company CFR Marfa (6,700 people), the passenger division CFR Calatori (1,032 people), train car maintenance and repair company CFR IRV (800 people), the railroad company CFR SA (600 people) and the locomotive maintenance and repair company CFR IRLU (500 people).

Romanian railroad unionists threatened to go on general shrike in protest to the government's plan to scrap more than 10,000 jobs in the sector, but said they are confident Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea would not endorse the Transport Ministry's plan.

According to data provided by unions in April, CFR Calatori employs 16,986 people, CFR SA employs 28,045 people and CFR Marfa employs 17,863 people.

If you liked this story, please follow MEDIAFAX.RO on FACEBOOK »

The content of mediafax.ro is for your information only. Republishing or using this content is forbidden without express consent of MEDIAFAX. For this consent, please ask for it by mail at vanzari@mediafax.ro.