The problems of the Romanian prison system
Romanian justice minister Raluca Pruna has given assurances that the government is looking into the problems reported by inmates and the prison staff.
România Internațional, 27.09.2016, 13:20
The prison staff in Romania on Monday began protest actions for an indefinite period. They demand, among other things, better working conditions, eliminating wage inequities and addressing the shortage of staff, saying around 8,000 more people should be hired. The National Penitentiary Administration offers 15,000 jobs, of which 12,000 are taken, but 20,000 are in fact required. Trade unions threaten not to work overtime any more, which, in their opinion, would block the entire activity in prisons.
The president of the trade union federation within the National Penitentiary Administration, Florin Schiopu, said after talks with justice minister Raluca Pruna on Monday that negotiations had failed and that protests would continue. Pruna said some of the demands of the prison staff were being analysed by the government. It is regrettable that laws are being passed in Romania before making sure that the needed financial and human resources are available, she said.
The management of the National Penitentiary Administration said it took the trade unions demands under advisement, but warned that while the staff cannot resort to strikes or voluntary interruptions of their activity, they may stage other forms of protest in keeping with the law. Moreover, the National Penitentiary Administration said its employees are paid according to the specific salary schemes established by law.
The Administration also said it took legal administrative and organisations steps to make sure employees do not do more than 180 hours of overtime. The protest of the prison staff comes after loud protests by inmates this summer who complained about the overcrowding of the cells and the unsuitable medical services provided. Inmates demanded to be involved in lucrative activities and to have their prison time and the time they have to serve before parole release reduced.
At the time, the justice minister said the situation in the Romanian prison system is systemic and has been serious for more than 20 years. She said that addressing the problems is a priority of her term in office. At the beginning of July, the Ministry of Justice said it had adopted, together with the National Penitentiary Administration, a plan of measures tackling access to employment, hiring more medical staff, making prison spaces more hygienic and providing dental medical services for inmates. The European Court of Human Rights has forced Romania to pay compensations to inmates over the unsuitable conditions in prisons on a number of occasions.
(Translated by C. Mateescu)
