Negotiations between the government, employers’ associations and trade unions

The Romanian government on Wednesday held negotiations with the trade unions and the employers associations, which, however, failed to produce any concrete results.

Leyla Cheamil, 10.10.2013, 12:20

Trade union leaders have called for the introduction of the collective labour bargaining at national level, but the employers’ associations did not agree with the idea. In turn, the government has proposed the introduction of a moratorium on the labour legislation, an approach agreed upon by the employers’ association, but rejected by trade unions.

The National Three-Party Council met in Bucharest on Wednesday to resume social dialogue between the government, trade unions and the employers’ associations. However, the three parties failed to reach an agreement on the introduction of a moratorium on the labour legislation, proposed by the government. Accepted by the employers’ confederations, the proposal has been rejected by trade unions, which are disappointed by the lack of communication as regards the labour market.

Trade union leaders have said it is difficult to sign a moratorium as long as there is no openness or a minimal change in the legislative framework, to make possible the start of debates on the legislative changes to be made on the labour market. According to trade unions, some of these changes refer to the issue of the social partners’ representation in the structure of collective bargaining. Trade unions also believe that the collective bargaining agreement should be reintroduced at national level, because this type of document can efficiently protect the Romanian workers’ interests. Furthermore, trade unions believe the provisions which limit the right to a labour conflict should also be changed. They have also called for a gradual increase in the minimum wage in the economy.

The leader of the Cartel Alfa Trade Union Confederation, Bogdan Hossu, has further details: “We have forwarded to the government a draft social agreement which provides for a gradual increase in the national minimum wage, so that in 2016 the ratio between the minimum and the average wage in the economy stand at 50%. Other changes refer to the right to the labour conflict, which is now limited by the law and to the introduction of a single collective bargaining agreement at national level.”

In turn, the employers’ associations believe an increase in the minimum wage is needed, although they don’t know whether or not they can operate the increases requested by the trade unions.

The vice-president of the Alliance of Trade Union Confederations, Dan Matei Agathon says: “We should analyse the possibility of increasing the minimum wage, as much as we could, in the units which are affiliated to our confederations. Furthermore, we should increase the minimum wage in order to put an end to illegal, undeclared employment.”

In another move, the eight employers’ confederations which are representative at national level do not agree with the reintroduction of the collective bargaining agreement at national level. They evoke as major argument the fact that this type of document does not exist in most EU member states, so Romania would be disadvantaged, as compared to other countries around it. Belgium is the only EU member state to have a collective bargaining at national level.

The participants in Wednesday’s meeting have also agreed to set up a working group to have as main objectives preserving the number of existing jobs and creating new others.