Romanian Unionists Boo PM, Call For His Resignation Over Pension, Wage Laws

Around 200 unionists affiliated to the Cartel Alfa trade union federation complained that starting January they received smaller salaries compared to last year, adding one cannot make a living in these conditions.

Unionists urged the prime minister to ensure stable jobs and threatened they will go on general strike if their demands are discarded.

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

Boc told unionists 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.

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