A COMMON TARGET: Unions, Business Associations Are Social Partners Countrywide

• Business associations and trade unions are asking the Government to set up Economic and Social Committees to advise County Councils on public spending and social - economic issues

In the broader context of the economic crisis, business associations and trade unions are asking the Government to redefine the concept of social dialogue, especially at county level where substantial funding is expected this year. The large union confederations have prepared a draft law and submitted it to the Ministry of Labour with a view to regulating the legal status of Economic and Social Committees attached to County Councils and Prefect"s Offices.

According to the social partners, talks concerning the Economic and Social Committees have a broader scope which includes the matter of social partner representation and the justification of the Public Procurement Law.

Ioan Cezar Coraci, President of the General Union of Industrialists in Romania (UGIR 1903), told BURSA that the establishment of the Economic and Social Committees through a law was absolutely necessary considering that social dialogue was often ignored at county level and also within the economic development regions. According to him, the Committees will have to work with the chairman of the County Council on economic and social matters such as public spending, as opposed to the current situation, when things are settled by the Prefect"s Office and the County Council.

In turn, Nicolae Cretu, Vice Chairman of the Confederation of Democratic Unions in Romania (CSDR), told BURSA that a draft law on the operation of such Committees at county level was being reviewed by the Ministry of Labour. The two union leaders stressed it was absolutely necessary to establish the authority of Economic and Social Committees at local level through a law, especially considering the status of county aldermen, who were elected representatives. "Because they are elected officials, county aldermen claim to have enough authority on local issues and decline social dialogue," the two union leaders said.

Representation is another issue identified by UGIR 1903. Ioan Cezar Coraci explained that social dialogue at central level was hindered by the current definition of the concept of representation. UGIR 1903 is asking the government to negotiate economic and social issues only with organizations that are represented in Brussels, too. Although such decision would bypass small business associations and small unions, the intention is to ensure more coherence in social dialogue.

The ongoing talks at the Ministry of Labour are also intended to introduce the concept of social dialog at sector level and to change certain provisions of the Labour Code.