Romania’s minimum wage increase agreed
An agreement was reached between Romania’s government, trade unions and employers concerning the country’s minimum wage on Tuesday. Social partners have agreed on the matter following talks late into the night. The minimum wage in Romania would increase to RON 1,250 (about 277 euros) starting in May 1, 2016 from RON 1,050 (about 233 euros). The country’s Economic and Social Council is expected to approve the project already favoured by trade unionists, according to a statement of Bogdan Hossu, leader of the Alfa Cartel trade union. Unionists accepted the project as it provides an automatic indexing which would take into account both minimum basket and inflation rate allowing a mechanism for growth in the near future.
Romania’s Energy Minister on a visit to Jiu Valley
Romania’s Energy Minister Victor Grigorescu visited the south-western region of Jiu Valley on Monday as he called on managers of the Energy Complex in Hunedoara to admit responsibility for the company’s mismanagement. Mr. Grigorescu ruled out the collapse of the company while warning that social consequences would be „huge” and threat the country’s energy stability. The European Commission approved in April this year a rescue aid for the Hunedoara Energy Complex (CEH) in exchange of restructuring plans.
Romanian official under preventive arrest
An official of Romania’s Special Telecommunications Service (STS) is under preventive arrest for influence peddling, according to a court ruling issued on Tuesday. STS Colonel Ştefan Enache is under investigation for allegedly pretending a bribe of 10,000 euros for his good relations with the head of the country’s Autonomous Administration of State Protocol Patrimony (RA – APPS) who was supposed to intervene in a real estate auction in the capital Bucharest at a price below the market. Then Mr. Enache and his „client” were supposed to share the building involved. Ştefan Enache was also alleged to pretend 30,000 euros in another deal for two different assets.
Romanian pimp convicted to prison in Spain
A court in Spain convicted a Romanian pimp to 44 years in jail on Monday. The man was arrested three years ago for sex trafficking and abuse. The ring included men who forced women, under age girls some of them, to prostitution in the capital Madrid. The man, known as Iulian T., used to mark women with bar code tattooes. Relatives of the man including his wife and his daughter received jail sentences between 1 to 31 years, Radio Romania reported.
Alexandru Danga
