Romanian PM Invites Disgruntled Unionists To Talks On Wages, Pensions

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc came to talk to unionists protesting outside the government headquarters Friday and called on them to accept the pension reform, saying low pensions would not be reduced.

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Imaginea articolului Romanian PM Invites Disgruntled Unionists To Talks On Wages, Pensions

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Boc told around 200 unionists affiliated to the Cartel Alfa trade union federation that the country needs to reform its pension system and eliminate large pensions, otherwise it won't be able to pay any pensions and wages on the medium-term. The prime minister urged unionists to agree that Parliament should enact the pension reform.

"We pay according to how much work is done, but we don't want to end up unable to pay wages and pensions. Let us not go down the same path as Greece," Boc told protesters.

"We need a law that is fair to everybody. People, we need to be able to pay wages and pensions in the long run, and retirement age will be equal for both men and women in 2030. if you send out signals that you' don't agree with the pension law, well, that's all the Parliament is waiting for," Boc said.

The prime minister explained the government cannot take from the rich and give to the poor because fair and honest business owners must be left alone and unlawful business owners must answer to courts of justice.

He said he is open for talks with unions and invited protesters to make up a negotiating team.

Unionists picket the government's headquarters over what they say is an incoherent unitary wage law and are disgruntled with freezing the minimum wage and the government's planned pension reform, which is pending urgent debates in Parliament.

The Cartel Alfa union said it would set off protests countrywide over planned layoffs and wage cuts in the public sector.

The Government this year has passed several normative acts cutting jobs in the public sector, freezing wages and eliminating wage bonuses in a move to cut public spending and keep the budget deficit in check.

Romania was deeply affected by the ongoing economic downturn and relies on a EUR20 billion loan package from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the European Union. To continue getting the loan money, the country needs to keep public spending in check and trim its overstaffed public sector.

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