U.S. Department Of State Criticizes Romania On Mistreatment Of Detainees, Roma Discrimination, Corruption
The U.S. Department of State Report on Human Rights Practices for 2016 criticizes Romania for mistreatment of detainees and Roma people, as well generalized corruption, despite Government’s efforts to address systemic corruption.
The report says this situation affected their access to adequate education, housing, health care, and employment.The document also mentions that unlike the 2014 presidential elections in which electoral observers noted irregularities, including insufficient polling stations for the large diaspora community, the parliamentary elections in December 2016 were generally considered by observers to be free and fair and without irregularities. The report mentions that prison conditions remained harsh and do not meet international standards.
According to official figures, overcrowding is a problem, particularly in a number of prisons that fail to meet the standard area per prisoner set by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture.(Adevarul)
Gloomy Verdict For Bucharest In Case Of Earthquake Gheorghe Marmureanu, honorific president of the National Research-Development Institute for Earth Physics, spoke about how potential earthquakes in the future would change the face of capital Bucharest.“The Earth is a living planet, which is constantly moving. Therefore, it is not unusual that the plateau from Drumul Taberei district, including the place where the Parliament Palace is located, is rising by approximately 4 millimeters annually and, in time, a mountain will be rising over there. The Berceni area, instead, is sinking five millimeters annually and a great depression will be created there,” said Marmureanu.(Evenimentul Zilei)
Labor Minister Says Public Workers’ Wages Below RON4,000 To Double Labor Minister Lia Olguta Vasilescu said public workers’ wages below RON4,000 will double, adding the unitary salary law will even double wages.However, economists warned that this kind of statements are out of line considering that Romania is in dire straits in terms of revenue collection to the state budget and the Government will have to take measures such as tax increases. (Adevarul)
Survey: Half Of Romanians Expect Wages Raises In 2017 Romanians are optimistic regarding their professional situation in 2017, expecting either career changes or wage raises, according to a survey by eJobs.Thus, 52% of Romanians think they will get a raise in the next 12 months, while 39% say they plan to get a new job this year, expecting to get a better job and higher income.
Their optimism is based on the positive evolution of the labor market in 2016, in terms of number of jobs and salaries, a trend that will also maintain in 2017. Also, almost half (47%) of Romanians think the number of jobs will increase in the next 12 months.The survey was carried out between January 1 and February 17, 2017, on a representative sample countrywide of 1,350 employees. (Capital)
Senate Chairman Conveys Special Message To President Iohannis Senate Chairman Calin Popescu Tariceanu analysed the current situation on the political stage in Romania and conveyed a special message to President Klaus Iohannis.According to Tariceanu, Iohannis is the one backing Laura Codruta Kovesi as head of the National Anticorruption Department (DNA), considering that Kovesi has been harshly criticized by politicians following prosecutors’ abuses throughout investigations. (Evenimentul Zilei)