Weather Gets Cooler Starting Tuesday
The weather in Romania will get cooler starting Tuesday, December 29, and will linger for days, until January 3, 2016, according to meteorologists.
Several counties countrywide are targeted by code yellow warning for fog and temperatures below –10 degrees Celsius, mainly in northern and central Romania.
The wind will blow harder in eastern and south-eastern regions, as well as in mountain areas, but mainly at the seaside where the wind speed will exceed 60…70 km/hour. (Adevarul)
Health Ministry Opens Special Phone Line For Colectiv Club Fire Victims
Romania’s Ministry of Health has opened a special phone line for those injured in the tragic fire at Colectiv club in Bucharest, which took place on October 30.
The victims and their families can call 021.3072.614 and ask for financial support or psychological assistance. The line is available 24/7.
“Depending on the requests, the callers will receive support to cover the treatment costs abroad, the special equipment needed during recovery at home and abroad recommended by doctors, as well as other costs related to materials and drugs,” the ministry said in a statement.
The tragic fire shook up Romania on October 30 this year. 27 people died on the night of the incident, but the number kept rising ever since, reaching 63 on December 21. Recent data from the Health Ministry shows that 23 victims are still admitted in hospitals in Bucharest and abroad. (Evenimentul Zilei)
Union Leader Speaks Up About Planned Increase In Minimum Wage
Bogdan Hossu, head of union confederation Cartel Alfa, said the government proposed an increase in the minimum wage to RON1,200 starting May 1, 2016.
The Executive said it wants a study to analyse the impact of the planned increase on various counties and on certain sectors of activity which should absorb the increase of RON150 in the minimum wage.
Hossu said the unionists disagree with the government’s decision to call for a study arguing that, once a decision regarding a rise in the minimum wage has been made, a study in this respect would be totally unjustified and useless.
According to Labor Inspection representatives, on December 11, Romania had 1,402,329 employees earning a minimum wage of RON1,050 and a total 129,950 employees earning RON1,200 per month.
Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos recently said the government will have to make a decision regarding the minimum wage by the end of 2015. (Adevarul)
Energy Minister Asks CE Hunedoara Management To Take Measures To Avoid Bankruptcy
Energy Minister Victor Grigorescu, who is paying a working visit to state-run energy holding Complexul Energetic Hunedoara on Monday, said the company’s situation is “disastrous” and asked the management to take measures to avoid the company’s bankruptcy.
“I asked CE Hunedoara management to take on the company’s situation, to understand that it has to take bold measures to hinder a slipping to an irremediable situation. The disastrous condition is the result of faulty economic behaviors that even jeopardized the existence of the company. Whoever fails to understand that we need to quickly correct the mistakes of the past (…), will not be part of our team,” the minister posted on his Facebook page.
The minister said that the depoliticization and re-professionalization of the company can no longer be postponed.
Former Energy Minister Andrei Gerea said in September that CE Hunedoara may enter insolvency anytime, considering its difficult situation and the large number of insolvency requests. (Puterea)
Political Parties Set Their Objectives For Local And Parliamentary Elections In 2016
The large political parties in Romania will be vying to take the helm of the country, while the small ones will be struggling to hold some seats in Parliament, following the local and parliamentary elections due at the end of 2016.
Surveys show that small political parties such as the People’s Movement Party, ALDE, PND, UNPR and M10 currently are very close to holding some seats in Parliament, ranging between 1% and 10%.
Their first big test will be the local elections due in the summer of 2016, because their results will change the strategy of many political parties which will be willing to form various alliances. (Evenimentul Zilei)