Social Democratic Party (PSD) MP Marius Budai, a former labour minister, told Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan on Thursday that the purpose of the reform is not to throw people out, but to make a more efficient system.

He says that, „for some, ‘administration reform’ means just kicking people out, in a predetermined percentage of 40%, 20% 15%, and some even make a brand out of it.”

„But I’m asking: who and how determines the percentage? Shouldn’t the percentage result in the end, after we digitalise services and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy? For only then will we know what is extra! Where there are employees in the public system who do not deserve their salary, who do not do their job well or who simply do nothing essential, we must take partners from those employees who do their duty with dedication and help us in this reform. But no one can say in advance how many percentages should be cut. The percentage results in the end! Mr Prime Minister, the purpose of the reform is not to kick people out, but to make a more efficient system! I don’t understand this Soviet-type Stakhanovism, through which percentages are established from thin air for the next five-year period!” Budai wrote in a social media post.

According to the former minister, „mass layoffs, without a clear vision of streamlining public spending and without alternatives for those laid off only mean moving the issue to another page of the state budget.”

„It is an illusion that savings will be made. Some will win lawsuits, with damages of tens of millions. Others will be unemployed, with unemployment benefits, paid from the budget. Others will leave the country and will no longer contribute anything to Romania, neither to pensions nor to healthcare insurance. And others will retire, or even end up in the streets. So, let’s stop this madness! Real reform means debureaucratisation, digitialisation reorganisation, professionalisation. Not haphazard redundancies!”.

AGERPRES