| CRISIS, UNEMPLOYMENT, FINANCIAL DEADLOCK 16/06/2009 |
| (2009-06-16) |
| Last updated: 2009-06-17 17:26 EET |
The latest survey conducted by consultancy company GfK Romania reveals that the incomes of 4 out of 10 Romanians suffered a negative influence in March, with the strongest impact being reported on bonuses and commissions. The work-able population is the most exposed to the negative impact on incomes, 9% of the employees having to cope with delays in salary payment, or even with a cut in salaries.
Bucharesters seem somehow more shielded in this respect, as only 18% of them have their incomes lowered by the ongoing economic turmoil. The survey also reveals that the number of those who can hardly make ends meet is on the rise, accounting for 60% of the population, as compared to 53% last year. Unemployment has a similar tendency.
According to the National Employment Agency, in May, the unemployment rate was 5.8%, by 2% higher than in May last year. The Labour Ministry estimates that by the end of 2009, 100,000 thousand up to 200,000 people are going to be made redundant. A growing number of companies resort to different methods, in their attempt to cut down on their staff expenses until the economic climate becomes more favorable.
Among these methods is the layoff, this week used by the National Brown Coal Mining Company – 10 thousand employees from mines in Oltenia ( in the South) have been sent home for one month. Concurrently, the authorities have taken measures to encourage firms not to shed their workforce, while companies are trying to reach a compromise solution, jointly with their employees.
The Director of the Alliance of the Employers’ Confederations in Romania, Adrian Izvoranu, will refer to some of those solutions:
“We can either reduce the daily working hours, as has been done mostly across Europe. A lot of companies in Europe have opted for the reduction of the working time, based on mutual consent. Or we can lay off people , which means we can have a maximum reduction of salary expenses, with no repercussion on the commodities. Or, as a last resort, we can use another method, which is operational in Europe right now, one of the most recent solutions, that of the working time credits, with people working at a faster pace to be able to meet the deadlines when there are orders, and benefit from a 3-4 months leave if need be, and when it best suits them.”
The negative effects of the ongoing crisis also include the situation of utility providers, currently on the verge of a financial deadlock.
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2025-04-03
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