Romanian Govt Freezes Hiring Of Police Academy Graduates By Interior Ministry Until 2012

People close to the matter told MEDIAFAX after Thursday's Government meeting, the Executive approved the start of Interior Ministry layoffs and the decision to temporarily freeze the hiring of police academy graduates by the institution. They said Interior Minister Traian Igas will meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Baconschi for talks on a likely transfer to consulates of some of the Interior Ministry employees who will be sacked.

The Interior Ministry said in a press release Thursday that, according to the decree, police officers and military staff to be made redundant will receive unemployment aid.

Baconschi said Tuesday that laid off Interior Ministry employees with experience in public relations might be hired by the Foreign Ministry in its consular network.

A draft emergency ordinance presented by MEDIAFAX last week stated police academy graduates would be distributed to the units under the Interior Ministry's authority late December and appointed starting with January 1, 2012. It also allowed the ministry to begin reducing its personnel, including public clerks, military priests and privates.

The act argued these measures are necessary because of the economic crisis' effects on the public sector, specifically the ability to cover salary expenses. It pointed out that postponing the hiring of graduates for next year is an "exceptional" measure, required to meet the budget deficit and personnel spending targets.

Last Wednesday, Igas said 10,000 ministry employees would be laid off in the following two months, including employees of the institution's central apparatus.

The employees will not receive severance pay, because the current economic situation does not permit it, but will be entitled to the same social assistance as any other person who has lost their job.

A bill on layoffs in the Interior Ministry failed to pass both the Senate and Chamber of Deputies.

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