Prime Minister Bolojan's response to the miners who clashed with the gendarmes in front of the Government. “Personally, I understand the social situation”
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan rejected the requests of the trade unionists from the Oltenia Energy Complex, regarding the extension of the employment contracts of approximately 1,800 miners. The Head of Government said that the staff reductions were already included in the company's restructuring plan and represent an assumed obligation towards the European Commission.
The trade unionists requested the renewal of individual fixed-term employment contracts that reach the termination term on April 1, 2026, for 1476 employees, respectively on May 1, 2026, for 317 employees. Otherwise, the Government should grant compensatory salaries to those laid off.
Ilie Bolojan's refusal
“Personally, I understand the social situation, but I am fair with you and the people you represent and I am telling you the truth. A few years ago, Romania made some commitments to the European Commission for which it received money. These commitments and the economic state of CE Oltenia led to the measures we see now, included in the company's restructuring plan,” said Prime Minister Bolojan, according to a Government statement.
The Prime Minister said that the measures are part of a restructuring and decarbonization plan that was approved at the national and European level as early as 2020. In addition, CE Oltenia ended the financial year 2025 with an accounting loss estimated at approximately 1 billion lei, in the context in which the costs generated by the purchase of CO₂ emission certificates, amounting to more than 2 billion lei, represent 38.5% of the total expenses.
“The renewal of individual fixed-term employment contracts that reach the termination date on April 1, 2026, respectively May 1, 2026, will not be possible, and the granting of compensatory salary rights for employees in such situations is not provided for by labor legislation,” the statement says.
The meeting was attended, along with the Prime Minister, by the Minister of Energy, Bogdan Ivan, on behalf of the Government. Dan Plaveti, the president of the directorate at Societatea Complexul Energetic Oltenia SA, also participated.
Incidents at the protest
Approximately 1,000 miners and energy workers from the Oltenia Energy Complex came to Bucharest and protested in front of the Government on Tuesday. The protest was scheduled to last until 17.00, but it was extended because the miners were dissatisfied with Ilie Bolojan's answer.
Several demonstrators clashed with the gendarmes trying to force the metal fences placed. The representatives of the Romanian Gendarmerie specified that the gendarmes “punctually” used the hand sprayers with irritant-tear-forming substance, to “limit the aggressive actions” of some participants, two of them being detained, according to News.ro.
