Romanian union officials converse with the prime minister following a demonstration against workforce reductions.
In Bucharest on September 15, several thousand civil servants rallied to oppose the government's reform plans aimed at reducing public administration staff. The demonstration, held in Victoriei Square and culminating at the Palace of Parliament, was met with a response from Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.
Addressing the protesters, Bolojan warned that delaying reforms would lead to higher costs in the future. He also emphasised the importance of cooperation with social partners, stating that "balanced and sustainable reform" could only be achieved through collaboration.
Following the rally, union leaders met with Prime Minister Bolojan for talks. According to Digi24, union leaders presented six demands that would effectively block the proposed law. These included dropping periodic evaluations and requesting comprehensive impact studies on job cuts.
However, no decision regarding the draft law or the reform plans was made in the meeting. Prime Minister Bolojan left open the possibility of additional consultations in the coming weeks, suggesting he could resign if the coalition fails to reach a consensus on the draft law.
In a statement, the government acknowledged the unions' openness to reform but called for continued dialogue and a clear legislative roadmap. The government also signalled a willingness to suspend further protests if discussions remain constructive.
The ruling coalition is preparing measures to streamline the public sector, particularly at the local level. The name of the leading negotiation partner with whom Prime Minister Bolojan is negotiating the public sector reform plans is not publicly specified.
The coalition partners are divided on the draft law, with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) advocating a softer approach. Bolojan, on the other hand, has insisted on a 10% cut in employees, tighter and more frequent performance evaluations for civil servants, and more restrictive payrolls in local administrations reliant on central government transfers.
Protesters also rejected differentiated salary scales based on municipal revenues, describing the measure as discriminatory. Union leaders called for a more comprehensive approach to public sector reform, focusing on efficiency and transparency rather than simply reducing staff numbers.
The government's statement did not provide any new details about the draft law or the reform plans. Bolojan stressed that more consultations would be held in the coming weeks, indicating a commitment to ongoing dialogue with social partners.
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