Romanian Social Assistance Budget Could Push System Into Collapse – Official

"I saw that the budget is much lower, but 3,000 layoffs seem like too much. This is a segment in which you cannot cut staff at will because it involves children, the elderly and people with disabilities. Maternity assistants and personal assistants cannot be fired," Savu said.

The former secretary of state added the reduction of the social assistance budget in times of crisis is a mistake.

"I would rather reduce the number of managers, but laying off the working people makes room for more bosses and underbosses. Since the crisis is widening, the system will be faced with more cases. The quality of services offered will decrease, but I believe there is the risk for the system to enter collapse. The budget is at two thirds of last year's. During times of crisis you do not cut the welfare budget, you cut funds at the presidency or anywhere else," Savu said.

She added that based on the family services law, authorities could have reduced the number of maternity assistants in time and, correlated with the daycare law, alternatives could have been offered to those people in the private sector.

On the other hand, the former chief of the Social Inspectorate, Maria Muga, said the application of cost standards will lead to a "resettling on the human resources segment".

Also, in her opinion, the application of cost standards will also increase the quality of services offered, since staff will have to focus more on caring for the assisted individuals, and less on administrative development.

Some 3,000 employees will be laid off from social assistance units following the application of cost standards in the system, which will lead to a 37% reduction in the budget compared to the one allotted in 2009, according to a Government decision issued Wednesday.

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