The scandal of cuts and redundancies extends. ASF, ANCOM and ANRE unions criticize the announced measures

The regulatory authorities in Romania – ASF, ANRE and ANCOM – risk losing their independence and efficient supervision if the draft law on “efficiency” They are adopted in the current form, warns the unions in these institutions.

The unions criticize the Government's Plans on Demnies / Photo source: Hotnews

Trade unions in the three institutions concerned by harshly criticized the measures announced from the Victoria Palace

The representatives of the employees of the ASF, ANRE and ANCOM claim that articles VIII and IX of the draft law for amending and supplementing GEO no. 109/2011 regarding the corporate governance of public enterprises and some measures regarding the activity of some administrative authorities could lead to “the serious impairment of the budgetary autonomy, the organizational and functional independence, as well as of the capacity to administer the human resources” of the authorities, according to Agerpres.

Also, wage reductions and interference in staff decisions can affect the attracting and preservation of experts, endangering the process of Romania's accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the correct functioning of strategic markets.

“At the level of the law of the European Union, as well as of the national transposition legislation, the national autonomous regulatory authorities are qualified as essential elements to ensure some conditions of loyal competition, fundamental to ensure the stability, transparency and good functioning of the markets administered and supervised. Gradually, the regulatory authorities have become specific to the national administrative structures and EU regulations regarding the organizational structure and their autonomy “, It is shown in a document sent to the authorities by the mentioned unions on Friday.

The three regulatory authorities that are the subject of the draft law regulate and supervise national strategic sectors – electronic communications and digital infrastructures, the electricity and natural gas market, as well as the non -bank financial market. These fields are fundamental pillars of the functioning of the economy and social stability, and their importance is amplified in the current geopolitical, economic and technological context, it is pecised in the document.

Trade unionists accuse institutions could be affected independence

Trade unionists argue that the independence of these authorities is not a privilege, but a guarantee of public interest in maintaining competition, consumer protection and the functioning of strategic markets.

“As a result, we consider that these measures, provided in the draft law, violate the independence of ASF, ANRE and ANCOM, as they prevent these regulatory authorities to exercise their attributions conferred by European and national legislation. We also appreciate that these provisions contravene the conditions that the Member States must respect”reveals the quoted source.

Also, trade unionists point out that in the context of Romania's accession to the OECD, authorities must meet international standards on independence and governance. The OCDe report emphasizes that “The appropriate financing is essential to determine the extent to which the regulatory authority can perform and fulfill its mandate and act independently”they support the trade union organizations.

Employees warn that the measures announced compromised to fulfill the essential criteria set by OCDE

In the context in which Romania's accession to the OECD represents a major objective of the Romanian foreign policy, the unions in the regulatory authorities mention that the OCDE establishes clear requirements for the national regulators and emphasizes the crucial importance of the independence of the regulatory authorities. They warn that wage reductions and limiting autonomy into personnel decisions could transform institutions into vulnerable entities at political and economic pressures.

“In conclusion, we consider that the draft law, in its current form, compromises the fulfillment of the essential criteria established by the OECD regarding the governance of the regulatory authorities, by directly affecting the ability of the institutions to attract, retain and motivate the specialized personnel, according to the explicit recommendations from the Being An independent regulator report. The regulators become vulnerable to unjustified pressures, exactly the aspects that OCDE identifies as “stress points” for the independence of the authorities. Arbitrary discounts of personnel and resources, risks affecting not only Romania in the process of accession to OECD, but also the confidence of investors and the economic resilience of the country in the long term “, it is emphasized in the document.

What ASF, ANRE and ASM employees say about their salaries. I ask the removal of proposals and resume dialog

Regarding the observance of the law and the remuneration of the personnel, the document mentioned that ASF, ANRE and ANCOM have recently completed processes of institutional reorganization, respecting the national and European legal framework, and the remuneration of the staff is done exclusively through the basic salary, without additional bonuses or bonuses.

According to the quoted surress, the authorities have made significant progress in the efficiency of resources, including by reducing the positions and the salary fund, but the analyzed bill is not based on any clear impact assessment and does not establish concrete economic or social objectives.

The unions point out that the project ignores the measures already implemented, contradicting the Government's commitments to strengthen the administrative capacity and professional development. The lack of a coherent foundation affects the public consultation and makes it difficult to formulate constructive counterarguments.

In this context, the unions of the regulatory entities request the elimination of articles VIII and IX and the resumption of institutional dialogue to find a legislative solution that will ensure both the efficiency of the administrative activity and the respect of the principles of independence and good governance.

“We express our entire availability to participate in a constructive institutional dialogue, in which the employees of the regulatory authorities are represented, oriented towards the identification of real solutions to make the activity of all autonomous administrative authorities, respecting the national and European legislative framework, based Markets and the sustainable development of the economy and society as a whole “is shown in the document.

According to a draft law published by the General Secretariat of the Government, the executive management of the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) and the National Authority for Administration and Regulation (ANCOM) must submit, until September 30, 2025, a new organizational chart that will provide a 10% decrease in the positions of 30% and of 30%. support.

At the same time, the executive management of the three institutions will present, until the end of September, a payroll that will provide for a 30% decrease of all salaries and/or allowances of the personnel included in the states of functions on July 1, 2025.