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Romanian Mothers, Fathers, Children, Grandparents Picket Labor Ministry HQ
Over one hundred Romanian mothers, fathers, children and grandparents picketed Labor Ministry headquarters Monday, protesting against the child-rearing benefit cut.
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Protesters carried noisy children's toys, used diapers, and banners criticizing Romanian President Traian Basescu.
A group of protesters was admitted inside the Labor Ministry to file an open letter to Labor Minister Mihai Seitan, Prime-Minister Emil Boc and the president. The letter explains that the cuts might lead to an increase in child abandonment and abortion rates and that single-parent families and families with many children will be gravely affected. According to the letter, the cut would only save under %0.02 of the state budget. Protesters have said they will only accept the full reinstatement of the benefit, which is granted by law.
Former lawmaker Lavinia Sandru is among the protesters, as she initiated the law which set the child-rearing benefit at 85% of the parent's income for the previous 12 months. Sandru said the protests will continue, but added that she believes President Basescu will eventually understand the cut can be repealed.
Another notable protester is Ileana Savu, the former state secretary with the country's children's rights watchdog. According to Savu, money can be saved by reducing Ministry funds which do not pertain to wages, such as the EUR800,000 allotted this year to seminars "on fighting poverty and social exclusion".
The Boc Cabinet has announced it will slash the child-rearing benefit as of June 1, and it will soon be determined whether this will entail a decrease of the yearly income percentage or if all beneficiaries will receive a fixed sum.
Until early 2009, all beneficiaries irrespective of income received a child-rearing benefit of RON600 (EUR1=RON4.1878). Government sources have said that the Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Protection is currently considering a return to this sum.
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