Romanian Unionists Unhappy With High No Of Work Permits For Extra-EU Citizens

“Some of the government’s current measures contradict anti-crisis measures, as they include spending to extend unemployment benefits and to protect certain categories of Romanian workers, on one hand, and accepting additional 10,000 work permits for extra-Community workers, on the other. It seems to me this is a type of legalized corruption concerning inefficient utilization of public money,” said Bogdan Hossu, president of “Cartel Alfa” trade union.

 

Vacant jobs in Romania should first be available to Romanian and EU citizens, and then to workers from third countries, officials with the National Union Bloc, or BNS, said in turn. 

 

“Given the economic crisis, which will trigger bankruptcies and massive unemployment, we believe that limiting access to workers from third countries is a common-sense measure for every government able to make rational, normal decisions,” BNS officials said.

 

Romania’s Labor Ministry proposed in a draft decision that extra-Community citizens should be granted 10,000 work permits in 2009.

 

In 2008, the Romanian authorities issued 10,000 work permits for foreigners initially, and later supplemented the number with another 5,000 permits.