Employees In Romania Work An Average 7 Hours And 44 Min/Day During The Week
Employees in Romania work an average seven hours and 44 minutes a day during the week, according to the National Statistics Institute (INS).
Men work eight hours and one minute a day, that is 38 minutes more than women, INS said in a statement.
Business owners spend eight hours and one minute a day at work, during the week, with men spending eight hours and five minutes a day, that is 17 minutes more than women. (Curentul)
Bill Regulating New Basic Healthcare Services Up For Public Debate
Romania’s Health Ministry has put up for public debate the bill regulating the new basic healthcare services package.
Health Minister Eugen Nicolescu said the new package, which targets people with no health insurance, includes emergency medical assistance, family planning services, monitoring for pregnant women and childwives, as well as investigations for severe cases. (Adevarul)
Foreign Investors To Focus Mainly On Agriculture, IT And Outsourcing In Romania In 2014
Agriculture, IT and outsourcing will become the main fields of interests for foreign investors in Romania in 2014, according to outsourcing & advisory company Accace.
Accace said agriculture will attract the bulk of investments, but the IT sector is also a major field of interest due to growing demand for applications and program development. When it comes to the IT sector, Romania is considered to be one of the most mature outsourcing markets.
Analyzing whether Romania is prepared to attract foreign investments, Accace says workforce and low operating costs are two of Romania’s advantages compared to other countries in the region, whereas bureaucracy, deemed excessive by investors, and an unpredictable taxation system, are Romania’s main flaws. (Curentul)
Hidroelectrica Expects Record Net Profit Of EUR200M In 2013
Romania’s state-run hydropower generator Hidroelectrica expects record net profit of EUR200 million in 2013.
However, Hidroelectrica expects loss of EUR30 million in 2014 following a decision of the country’s energy watchdog ANRE to provide only hydropower and nuclear power to households, starting 2014. Losses will be incurred by selling electricity below production costs.
Remus Borza, former head of Hidroelectrica’s Supervisory Board, said the company is expected to post more than 900 million lei (EUR201 million) profit in 2014, equal to the company’s income for the past 11 years.
Hidroelectrica emerged from insolvency in June this year.
The power company reported a pretax profit of 681 million lei (EUR152.2 million) in the first nine months of 2013, on total sales of RON2.28 billion.
The government plans to launch an initial public offering of 15% in Hidroelectrica in the second half of 2014. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Social Democrat PM Ponta Enjoys Great Support From Party Members
Social democrat senator Mircea Geoana said all members of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) will support Prime Minister Victor Ponta whether or not he will run for President of Romania at the presidential elections due in the fall of 2014.
Geoana stressed that Ponta has grown a lot as a politician and knows very well what is good for him and for the party. (Gandul)