Hard reaction of the unions regarding the consultations from Cotroceni: “Romania is not built only with parties and entrepreneurs”

“An honest Romania is built together-employers, workers, parties, civil society,” transmits the national trade union block in an open letter addressed to President Nicușor Dan.

The unions congratulate Nicușor Dan for Victoria in the presidential elections and point out that they repeat the mistake of the predecessors, Ilie Bolojan and Klaus Iohannis, to discuss measures that will impact a large number of citizens without talking to their representatives – the unions.

Nicușor Dan on Wednesday had consultations in Cotroceni with the representatives of the parliamentary parties, and the next day with representatives of the business environment.

“We note that from your agenda, although intense and well organized regarding discussions with parliamentary parties and the business environment, is completely missing an essential component of democracy: the social dialogue with the representatives of the employees”, is mentioned in the letter signed by the BNS President, Dumitru Costin.

The exclusion of the unions from the public consultations contravenes the Constitution and Convention of the International Labor Organization, which stipulates the participation of the unions in the elaboration of the policies directly affects their working and living conditions, attracts the attention of the NBS.

“The absence of the trade union structures from the initial consultations is, therefore, a fundamental mistake, not in shape. We consider that there can be no coherent and balanced reforms in the absence of voices representing millions of Romania.

“We are also worried about the hypocrisy of public discourse”

The national trade union block makes a review of the past decisions in which the employees suffered.

“We allow ourselves to remind you that in 2017, when the Government exempted employers to assume the task of financing public health and pensions, these being transferred almost entirely to workers, the employers did not protest. Since January 2018, the fiscal task is entirely assumed by the employee. Fiscals on work in the European Union, however, is already profiling in the public space the intention of the new government to increase this task, ”Costin recalls.

Critics are also brought to the representatives of the business environment. “We are also worried about the hypocrisy of the public discourse promoted by some of the employers, which lament the increase of taxes, but on the other hand I use any legislative port for tax optimization, I use black work and pay gray salaries,” written BNS.

“The boat is too inclined in favor of capital and in the detriment of work”

The unions go to consultations with proposals for sanctioning companies or shareholders who have transformed the insolvency into a national sport. “Companies are set up, debt accumulate, insolvency is declared, and then starts from scratch with a new company established. A harmful practice that affects the state budget and the healthy economy. No one proposes real sanctions for this destroying behavior!”

Tax policy measures type increase or increasing taxation at work, in the current economic model will only affect employers, says unions that accuse that “the boat is too inclined in favor of capital and in the detriment of work”.

Finally, the unions ask Nicușor Dan to fulfill their role as a mediator between the state powers and society during the discussions regarding the economic measures that will be taken to solve the problem of the budget deficit.

“Romania is not built only with parties and entrepreneurs. An honest Romania is built together – employers, workers, parties, civil society. This is the model of a real Europe,” concludes Dumitru Costin.

The full letter can be read below: