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Romanian Union Leader Says New Labor Code Legalizes Slavery, Calls For Protests

14:48, 18 Feb. 2011
Romanian Cartel Alfa union leader Bogdan Hossu said Friday changes in labor legislation allow a new form of slavery, as employers may operate collective layoffs anytime and hire new people the next day.

EC Report Notes Romanian Parliament Blocked Investigation Of Fmr Minister, MP

14:44, 18 Feb. 2011
The European Commission's interim report on Romania's justice sector mentions the Parliament blocking the investigation of former minister Monica Iacob Ridzi and MP Dan Pasat, and its decision to reduce the National Integrity Agency's budget, citing budget constraints.

EC Report Notes Positive Effects Of Romania’s Amended Constitutional Court Law

14:33, 18 Feb. 2011
The European Commission’s interim report on Romania’s justice system, released Friday, noted improvements in speeding up trails by amending the law on the country’s Constitutional Court.

Romania Should Focus On Strengthening General Anti-Corruption Policy – EC Report

14:26, 18 Feb. 2011
Romania should focus on measures improving the celerity of high-level corruption trials and strengthening general anti-corruption policy until the European Commission's next assessment, according to the EC’s interim report on Romania’s progress under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism.

Romania Must Prepare For Effects Of New Legal Codes – EC Report

14:07, 18 Feb. 2011
The European Commission's interim report on the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism says Romania's main challenge regarding judicial reform in the coming months "will be to prepare successfully for the entry into force of the four new codes."

Archaeological Digs Hinder Progress On Romanian Cernavoda-Constanta Hwy – PM

13:55, 18 Feb. 2011
Romania's Government is having some problems with the construction of the Bucharest-Constanta Highway, because of the archaeological sites on the Cernavoda-Constanta segment, and is looking for solutions so that work could be finished by the end of the year, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Friday.

Romanian Businessman Dinu Patriciu Wins Lawsuit Against Intelligence Service

13:49, 18 Feb. 2011
Romanian businessman Dinu Patriciu on Friday won a lawsuit against the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), which must pay him moral damages of 50,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.2493) for illegal phone call tapping.

Ferrari Dealer In Romania To Open Lotus Showroom In Feb

12:55, 18 Feb. 2011
Forza Rossa, Ferrari dealer in Romania, will bring sports car brand Lotus on the local market, under an exclusive agreement with the British carmaker, the company said in a press release.

Romanian Govt Might Seek Confidence Vote To Pass New Labor Code

12:29, 18 Feb. 2011
Romania’s Government may seek a confidence vote in Parliament to adopt new labor legislation, Prime Minster Emil Boc said Friday, adding a decision will be made after talks in the Government and the ruling coalition.

Romania Might Emerge From Recession In End-March – PM

19:45, 17 Feb. 2011
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Thursday that Romania might emerge from recession by the end of March, having posted 0.1% growth in the GDP in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Three Quarters Of Romanians Avoid Interacting With Banks – Poll

18:51, 17 Feb. 2011
A poll conducted by Romanian surveyor IRES revealed that 76% of Romanians would prefer to stay away from banks, while less than half of bank clients trust the lenders.

National Collective Contract Removed From Latest Draft Of Romanian Labor Code

18:47, 17 Feb. 2011
Every mention of the single national collective labor contract has been struck from the latest draft of Romania's Labor Code, which will be discussed Friday by Prime Minister Emil Boc, Labor Minister Ioan Botis and the major labor unions.

Romanian Probationary Employment Period No Longer Than 90 Days – Draft Labor Code

18:17, 17 Feb. 2011
The probationary employment period will be no longer than 90 calendar days, for both regular and management positions, and an employer will be allowed to have several people on trial for the same job, but for no longer than one year in all, says the latest draft of Romania's Labor Code.

EXCLUSIVE: Romanian Govt Wants To Recover Social Benefits Cashed By Ineligible Beneficiaries

17:58, 17 Feb. 2011
Romania's Government is considering steps to recover money provided as social assistance to fraudulent beneficiaries, such as reducing later benefits or creating a repayment schedule, and will check the applicants' real source of income before disbursing such benefits in the future.

EXCLUSIVE: Romanian Govt To Reduce No Of Social Services, Beneficiaries

17:39, 17 Feb. 2011
Romania will reduce the number of social services and beneficiaries, whose eligibility for assistance will be tied to their efforts to find work and their children's school performance, says a government paper obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Tour Agency 2010 Sales Down 15% On Year – Assoc

16:13, 17 Feb. 2011
The sales of Romanian tour agencies dropped by an average 15% in 2010, compared to 2009, and dozens were forced to close because of the economic crisis, said Corina Martin, head of the National Association of Tour Agencies (ANAT).

Romania Dec ‘10 Construction Output Rises At Fastest Pace In EU

14:33, 17 Feb. 2011
Romania's construction output rose 17.6% on the month in December 2010, the highest increase in the European Union, official data showed Thursday.

Romania Wants To Double No. Of Foreign Tourists By 2015

11:58, 17 Feb. 2011
Romania wants to double the number of foreign tourists that visit it by 2015 compared to the numbers recorder in 2010, according to the Tourism Ministry’s strategy presented Tuesday.

Romanian Tourism Sector Has Overcome Crisis, Minister Says

10:31, 17 Feb. 2011
Romania’s tourism sector has overcome the financial and economic crisis as both hotels and tour operators have posted increased contributions to the country’s gross domestic product last year, Tourism Minister Elena Udrea said Thursday.

Romanian Govt Rejects Rail Co CFR Marfa’s 2011 Budget Over Forecast Losses

20:38, 16 Feb. 2011
Romania's Government on Wednesday approved the budgets of several state-run companies, but rejected that of rail cargo carrier CFR Marfa, with Prime Minister Emil Boc arguing that a budget's first draft shouldn't forecast losses, but at most zero profit.

Romanian Rail Co CFR Marfa Management, Workers Sign 2011 Collective Work Contract

20:22, 16 Feb. 2011
The management of Romanian state-owned rail freight company CFR Marfa and its workers' union on Tuesday signed the collective labor contract for 2011, which provides protection for the employees to be made redundant as the company is restructured

Romanian Govt Orders „Legal High” Shops To Stock Authorized Products Exclusively – Sources

20:05, 16 Feb. 2011
Romanian "legal high" shops will be required to sell solely government-approved products, and authorities will crack down on the sale of hallucinogenic plants and associated substances, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX on Wednesday.

Romania To Guarantee Loans Contracted By Homeowners For Building Façade Repairs

16:38, 16 Feb. 2011
The Romanian state will subsidize the interest and guarantee the loans taken out by homeowners for building façade repairs, according to a draft act drawn up by the Tourism and Regional Development Ministry.

Oxford Economics Revises Up Romania’s 2011 GDP Growth To +0.1%

16:32, 16 Feb. 2011
Oxford Economics revised its forecast for Romania’s economic growth in 2011 from a negative 1% to a “marginal” increase of 0.1%, but warned that the main growth catalyst, the exports, is also a vulnerability.

Romanian Proprietatea Fund Could Pay RON0.0156 Dividend

16:10, 16 Feb. 2011
Romanian investment fund Fondul Proprietatea (FP.RO) could pay a gross dividend of 0.0156 lei per share (EUR1=RON4.2584) from last year’s profit, much lower than the one paid a year earlier, according to a memo sent Wednesday to the Bucharest bourse.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia To Launch Minivan, City Car Models In 2011

14:45, 16 Feb. 2011
Romanian carmaker Dacia, owned by French group Renault, will launch two family car models this year, a minivan that will cost EUR14,800, which could be called Popster, and a city car derived from a light commercial vehicle, according to L'Automobile Magazine.

Romanian Online Retailer eMag ’10 Sales Up 60%, To EUR102M

14:19, 16 Feb. 2011
Romanian IT&C online retailer eMag Wednesday said its sales rose 60% year-on-year in 2010, to EUR102 million, due to attracting new corporate clients, a larger product range and better organization processes.

EXCLUSIVE: Romanian President Pushes For Technocrat PM

13:37, 16 Feb. 2011
Romanian President Traian Basescu told local democrat liberal leaders in a meeting Tuesday evening they need to convince lawmakers the country needs a technocrat for prime minster, sources at the meeting told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Ranked 7th In CEE By No. Of Cars Sold In ‘10

13:17, 16 Feb. 2011
Romanian carmaker Dacia is ranked seventh in Central and Eastern Europe regarding the number of cars sold in 2010 and Dacia Logan is the third best selling car brand, according to automotive business intelligence provider JATO.

Bucharest City Mall Auctioned Off For At Least EUR33M

13:04, 16 Feb. 2011
Bankrupt City Mall shopping center in Romania’s capital city Bucharest will be put up for sale at the end of March at a starting price of EUR33 million, judicial administrator Casa de Insolventa Transilvania said in a statement Wednesday.

Romanian Integrity Agency Checks Union Leaders’ Wealth Amid Corruption Accusations

12:26, 16 Feb. 2011
Romania’s Integrity Agency (ANI) have started checking the wealth of union leaders after a former customs worker accused Sed Lex union leader Vasile Marica of bribe taking.

Romanian Broadcasting Code Bans Ads For Prescription Drugs

16:52, 15 Feb. 2011
Promoting prescription medicine is forbidden on Romanian TV or radio, but broadcasters are allowed to advertise medical practices, clinics and pharmacies, according to amendments to Romania's broadcasting Code, adopted Tuesday by the National Audiovisual Council (CNA).

Romanian Democrat Liberal MP Investigated For Corruption Decides To Quit Party

14:28, 15 Feb. 2011
Romanian democrat liberal MP Dan Pasat, who is being investigated on charges of blackmail, told MEDIAFAX Tuesday that he decided to quit the party.

Orange, Vodafone Romania Fined EUR63M For Abuse Of Dominant Position

13:50, 15 Feb. 2011
Romania’s Competition Council fined mobile operators Orange Romania and Vodafone Romania EUR63 million for abuse of dominant position, Competition Council president Bogdan Chiritoiu said Tuesday.

Romanian Guarantee Fund ’10 Payments To Banks Rise To RON95M

13:12, 15 Feb. 2011
Romanian SME loan guarantee fund FNGCIMM paid some 95 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2496) to banks last year, up 35% from RON70 million in 2009, mostly for working capital loans.

Fmr Customs Worker Accuses Romanian Union Leader Of Bribe Taking

11:50, 15 Feb. 2011
A former customs worker at the southern Romanian Giurgiu crossing point said Sed Lex union leader Vasile Marica took bribes from customs employees to have them promoted or kept in their jobs.

Romanian Senate Validates 8 Magistrates Council Members

10:51, 15 Feb. 2011
Romania’s Senate validated Monday the eight members of the High Council of Magistrates whose candidacy the Constitutional Court ruled legal.

Romania 2010 GDP Down 1.2% On Year, Less Than Expected

10:13, 15 Feb. 2011
Romania's economy shrank at an annual rate of 1.2% in unadjusted terms in 2010, a slower pace than initially predicted, according to a flash estimate of the country’s statistics institute released Tuesday.

Romanian TV Stations Violating Personality Rights Fined RON60,000-200,000 – Bill

19:34, 14 Feb. 2011
Romanian TV and radio stations breaching legislation on "personality rights," "protection of dignity" or "presumption of innocence" may get fined between 60,000 and 200,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.2490), according to a bill amending the Law on audiovisual broadcasting.

Romanian Cable TV Providers Not Required To Carry Private Stations – Bill

19:32, 14 Feb. 2011
Romanian cable TV providers will no longer be obliged to carry private TV stations, according to a bill amending the Law on audiovisual broadcasting, put forward by a number of democrat liberal MPs.