Four trade union confederations are asking president Nicusor Dan to initiate the constitutional procedure to mediate the social conflict existing between trade union organisations and Government representatives.
The four trade unions confederations, namely the National Trade Union Confederation „Cartel ALFA”, the National Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Romania – Fratia, the Confederation of Democratic Trade Unions of Romania (CSDR) and the National Trade Union Confederation MERIDIAN, participated in the meeting on November 26 with presidential advisor Radu Burnete, in the context of the request addressed to the president of Romania to mediate the social conflict between trade union organisations and Government representatives.
„The meeting on November 26 did not substantially address the topics for which it was requested: the minimum salary, the loss of purchasing power and real working conditions. From the explanations received, we understood that there are no legitimate arguments for increasing the guaranteed minimum salary – except for the desire to maintain a level favourable to maximising capital profits, even in the context of an economic crisis recognized by the governments,” reads a press release of the four trade union confederations sent to AGERPRES on Thursday.
The unions indicate that the essential topics – the increase in the minimum salary, the loss of purchasing power and real working conditions – were not addressed on the occasion of that discussion. They invoke Directive (EU) 2022/2041 on adequate minimum salary, which recommends the use of the minimum consumer basket or indicators of 60% of the median salary and 50% of the average gross salary, as a benchmark for a decent minimum income.
In this context, the confederations ask the president to launch the mediation procedure provided for by the Constitution, to establish an official framework for dialogue between the president, the government and trade unions, and to include on the agenda of discussions the increase in the minimum salary, the protection of purchasing power and also ensuring decent working conditions. AGERPRES
