Romanian Unions, Govt To Discuss Plan To Collect Social Security Contributions From Journalists

MediaSind and ROMEDIA oppose the Boc Cabinet's decision to stop exempting people from paying social security contributions for income gained from copyright, royalties and various collaboration contracts.

In a statement issued to MEDIAFAX, the two organizations accused the Boc Cabinet of "attempting to deal a new blow to the media industry during this crisis." MediaSind and ROMEDIA said the amounts the state would collect from journalists are minimal and would not put the Romanian economy on the road to recovery.

The two organizations said they would meet with the government next week and try to solve the conflict amiably. Should negotiations fail, MediaSind and ROMEDIA will decide among themselves on internal and international protest action, the statement said.

Romania's government is planning to stop exempting people from paying social security contributions for income gained from copyright, royalties and various collaboration contracts, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

The government is also looking at ways to include freelance professions into the public pension system, according to a document drafted by the Labor Ministry, which has been discussed by the government.

The document, signed by the labor minister, shows the draft law on the country's future unitary public pension system has been amended following talks with unions, employers, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the European Commission, organizations of pensioners and following public debate.

The main amendments brought to the draft are lifting social security contribution exemptions for incomes from copyright and collaboration contracts; discouraging abusive early retirement on medical grounds; including new categories of beneficiaries, such as lawyers and clergymen, in the unitary public pension system.

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