NATIONAL SOCIAL REPORT

ROMANIA

2012

CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................. 3

2. REVIEW OF PROGRESS MADE AGAINST THE OVERARCHING OBJECTIVES OF THE OMC ............................... 14

3. REDUCING POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION ............................................................................................... 19

4. ADEQUATE AND SUSTAINABLE PENSIONS ..................................................................................................... 24

5. ACCESIBLE, HIGH-QUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE AND LONG-TERM CARE ................................. 25

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Describe the overall economic and social context of your country, with particular focus on the

challenges linked to social protection and social inclusion. Where relevant, refer to the relevant

Social OMC common indicators and/or other national indicators.

The economic situation within the European Union was characterized by a further deterioration by

late 2011, yet the situation is expected to improve. The gross domestic product (GDP) for EU-27

increased by 1.5% and by 1.4% in the euro area, according to the autumn forecast 2011. However, the

loss of speed in the EU economy in the late 2011 proved to be sharper than anticipated in the autumn

forecast. The sharp drop of confidence, the sovereign debt crisis and a weaker global economy has

had an impact on the economic growth.

At the beginning of 2012, financial markets have showed signs of stabilization. In time, although EU

Member States have adopted additional measures in order to improve the fiscal consolidation, the

sovereign debt crisis has continued in some Member States within the euro area that may affect the

short-term growth prospects. The latest indicators showing the level of confidence have stabilized or

have even entered an upward trend. For early 2012, some contraction is expected to arise in both EU

and euro area, followed by a modest recovery in the second half of the year, which is typical for the

aftermath of the financial crisis period.

As for the 2012, the growth forecast for EU-27 was revised downwards from 0.6% in the autumn

forecast 2011 to 0% in the spring 2012 interim forecast.

In Romania, GDP increased in 2011, in real terms, by 2.5% as compared to 2010. Quarterly evolution

shows that, after an increase of 1.7% of GDP in the QI as compared to the same quarter of 2010, a

slower growth annual rate of 1.4% was registered in the QII. In QIII, the Romanian economy grew by

4.4%, this representing the strongest quarterly economic growth from the beginning of 2010 up to

present. Growth was mainly driven by a good agricultural harvest, but also by industry production

growth and by the return of the construction sector on a positive track. In QIV, despite the

deterioration of the global environment, Romanias economy grew by 1.9%.

Domestic demand grew by 3.1% in 2011, as compared to 2010, amid a 1.3% growth of private

consumption and a 6.3% increase of gross fixed capital formation. Government/public consumption

(including its individual and collective consumption) decreased by 3.5%. The exports of goods and

services rose by 9.9%, while imports increased by 10.5%, thus the contribution of net exports to real

GDP growth turned to be negative, namely of -0.8%.

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On the supply side, it is worth mentioning that the gross added value of the agriculture grew

remarkably by 11.3%, while the one for industry increased by 5%. Construction output increased by

2.7%, while the services sector decreased by 0.1%; yet, within the services sector, the gross added

value of some branches like Entertainment, cultural and leisure activities; domestic products repairs

and other services and trade; transport and storage; hotels and restaurants grew by 4.8%,

respectively by 1.2%.

Despite the economic difficulties within the past two years, the employment rate recorded a

moderate decrease, of 0.2 pps in 2010, and about 0.4 pps in 2011, as compared to the level of

63.5% reached in 2009. In the QIV/2011, according to the data issued by INS, the employment rate

for the age group 20-64 was 62.3%, registering a gap of 7.7 pps, as compared to the national target

of 70%. The youth employment rate (age group 15-24) reached only 23.1%, and the youth (people

aged 15-24) unemployment rate was 25.4%.

In order to improve the labour market functioning, due to amendments performed to the Law No

53/2003 on the Labour Code, drafting of the subsequent legislation concerning the General Electronic

Register of the Employees and the temporary agency work authorization was required.

To this end, the Romanian Government approved the GD No 500/2011 on General Electronic

Register of the Employees, which lead to a complete database reflecting as accurately as possible the

employees activity. The intended impact was to reduce the undeclared work, and to integrate as

many employees as possible in the formal economy. On January 4, 2012, it was also published GD

No 1256/2011 on operating conditions and the procedure for authorizing the temporary agency work

reviewing the provisions related to the temporary agency work institution, according to the Directive

2008/104/EC on temporary agency work.

In order to tackle the undeclared work, the Law No 52/2011 on activities provided occasionally by

the daily labourers and the law enforcement norms were adopted. Thus, the employment procedures

for daily labourers were simplified in order to provide the subsistence income for these persons, and

to avoid the tax evasion.

According to the commitments undertaken by Romania under the Stand-by arrangement concluded

with IMF, the Law No 62/2011 on social dialogue was adopted in order to implement the reform of

legislation on the social dialogue. The law got into practice the sectoral labour agreements,

eliminating the collective labour agreements. Thus, the wage setting up reflects better the evolution of

the sectoral labour productivity, cutting back the effects generated by the former collective agreement

at national level that could bring about some economical imbalances, because of the financial

commitments exceeding the budgetary resources of the companies.

In order to develop the complementary private pension systems, the Romanian Government aimed

at regulating the organization of the Guarantee Fund of the rights in the private pensions system, and

the organization of private pension payment system, and the occupational pension funds. To this

effect, the Law No 187/2011 on the establishment, organization and functioning of the Guarantee

Fund of the rights in the private pensions system was adopted, regulating the establishment, legal

statute, the terms of Fund use, and the level and frequency of contributions fed into it.

Regarding the Law on management and operation of private pension payments system, observations

and completions were drafted, subsequently analyzed and partially taken over into the law. In March

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2012, the draft law was again subject to the inter-institutional approval procedure, following the

changes in the Government structure.

The draft Law on occupational pensions was subject to the inter-institutional approval procedure, and

it was discussed in the Working Group in order to analyze the comments submitted by the

institutions.

Given the duration of the adoption procedure of the draft Law on organization and operation of

private pension payments system, and the draft Law on occupational pensions, MMFPS postponed

the deadlines for the adoption by the Government of the two pieces of legislation in QIV/2012.

According to the Statement of the Members of the European Council 30 January 2012 - Towards

Growth-Friendly Consolidation and Job-Friendly Growth, increasing the employment rate is a

central objective in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Euro Plus Pact. In this context,

it was established the need to put into practice a National Plan for Jobs, using social dialogue

mechanisms, in close cooperation with the social partners. The document is meant to accelerate the

efforts to promote the first contact of young people with professional life and their participation into

the labour market, taking into account that the European Union is facing high unemployment rates for

this category of people. The objectives of the National Plan for Jobs:

A. to ensure a job, a form of education or a training course for every young person within

four month from end of the school;

B. to conclude agreements with social partners in order to increase the number of

apprenticeships and training;

C. to redirect EU structural funds to address with priority youth unemployment;

D. to use existing EU support schemes to facilitate the mobility of young people

The National Plan for Jobs includes the following directions of actions and measures:

1. Creating jobs and stimulating entrepreneurship

1.1. Supporting enterprises, especially employment and self employed people, through access to

finance by providing low interest loans and grants,

1.2. Fiscal measures, subsidies granted to employers who hire young people

1.3. Financial support for maintaining the professional capacity of workers at risk of dismissal.

2. Employment stimulation particularly by activating young people on labour market

2. 1. Identifying the demand and the supply of labour force at local level, focusing on rural areas,

2.2 Increasing the operational capacity of Public Employment Service through schemes of

professional skills activation and improvement

2.3. Emphasizing the social dialogue between the Public Employment Service and employers/

employees by establishing local partnerships and mechanisms for cooperation with companies

2.4. Reduction the labour market segmentation by creating new job opportunities for young people by

accelerating efforts to promote their first contact with professional life

3. Promoting the human capital development and supporting lifelong learning

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3.1. Enhance the effectiveness of continuous vocational training activities through finalizing the

National Qualifications Framework in accordance with the European Qualifications Framework

3.2. The institutional development of training component by restructuring training centres and placing

them in a competitive system, development centres for assessment of skills acquired in a non-formal

and informal system.

3.3. Improving professional skills of the workforce through effectiveness network of information,

counselling and career guidance, developing by the Territorial Agencies for Employment and the

local agencies

4. Stimulating the workforce mobility

4.1. Promoting occupational mobility and stimulate the geographical mobility of the workforce

4.2. Informing the workers on internal geographic mobility opportunities for better jobs

4.3. Improving efficiency of EURES services

4.4. Fully exploiting the mobility portal for employment - EURES, in order to facilitate cross-border

employment of young people.

5. Fighting against undeclared work

5.1. Intensifying the control actions by the Labour Inspectorate and by other control bodies

5.2. Developing public information campaigns for the citizens on the risks of undeclared work.

During January 1st, 2011 January 31st, 2012, 981,686 people benefited by the active employment

measures, out of which 386,130 people were employed, as a result of the implementation of the

Employment programme funded by the Unemployment Insurance Budget (UIB). 29,814 people

belonging to the disadvantaged groups were employed by granting subsidies to companies, according

to the Law No 76/2002, and other 1,915 people were employed based on the provisions of the Law No

116/2002 on prevention and mitigation the social exclusion.

By February 24, 2012, complementary to the programs financed by UIB, 4171 projects were financed

through the European Social Fund (ESF), aiming at fostering employment of the long-term

unemployed2. The payments amounted 490.47 million Lei, accounting for roughly 39.54% of the

total value of contracts. 33,796 people attended the active employment measures, out of which

16,022 were women and 8,784 young people. 25% of the unemployed were certified as a result of

their participation in the active employment measures (31% for women and 41% for youth).

In order to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Public Employment Service (PES), 23

employment agencies have been already providing self-services to their customers, by purchasing the

necessary IT equipments; and certain projects aiming at improving their institutional capacity are in

progress in other 11 employment agencies.

1 The smaller number is caused by the cancellation of seven contracts. 2 SOP HRD KAI 5.1. Developing and implementing active employment measures

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By March 15, 2012, 3,199 PES employees attended training courses for developing their language

and communication skills, computer skills, entrepreneurship courses and went in study tours in

similar institutions in other EU Member States.

In order to improve the vocational skills of the labour force, MMFPS drafted the Law on amending

and completing the GO No 129/2000 on adult vocational training, which is subject to the

parliamentary debates. The new provisions regulate that the continuous vocational training (CVT)

could by carried on by private or public legal and natural persons established in Romania, in other

Member States or in EEA countries, irrespective on their legal form, according to Directive

2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on 12 December 2006 on services in the

internal market. Given the extended adoption procedure by the Parliament, MMFPS postponed the

completion deadline to the QI/2013.

On June 20, 2011, the Law No 106/2011 on amending and completing the Law No 279/2005 on

apprenticeship at work was published. The new piece of legislation repealed the provisions related to

the authorization of the legal entities and individuals who employ apprentices and it become

mandatory for the employers to bear the assessment cost of the professional skills acquired in the

non-formal vocational training system. On December 28, 2011, the Romanian Government published

the GD No 1212/2011 on amending and completing the rules for implementing the Law No 279/2005

on apprenticeship at work.

Through ESF, 17 projects3 were contracted in order to strengthen the capacity of CVT service

providers, the payments amounted to 39.55 million lei, namely approx. 27.27% of the total value of

contracts. By February 24, 2012, 25 CVT service providers received the funding, and 36

qualifications were developed. The share of CVT service providers who were authorized / certified

according to quality assurance standards was 11.68%.

During January 1st, 2011 - January 31

st, 2012, 50,155 jobseekers were trained by means of CVT

programs financed by the UIB, out of which 17,850 people were employed.

Complementary, ESF founded 696 projects4 dedicated to the continuous vocational training of

workers; the payments amounted to 1.004 billion lei, approx. 32.04% of the total value of contracts.

By February 24, 2012, 107,091 people participated in training courses, out of which 38,255 women.

The output indicators were accomplished in a percentage of 33% - for the participants in CVT

programs who were certified, 27% - for the participants in training programs who started new

businesses, 58% - for the people who were certified in the management and organization of work and

78% - for the persons who were certified for upgrading their skills.

By March 15, 2012, in order to increase the employment quality for persons, youth and women

living in the rural area, 9,160 persons graduated the vocational training courses financed by MADR

3 SOP HRD KAI 2.3. - Access and participation in CVT 4 SOP HRD KAI 2.3. - Access and participation in CVT; KAI 3.1. - Promoting entrepreneurial culture; and KAI 3.2. - Training and support for enterprises and employees in order to promote adaptability

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through EARDF, under the measure dedicated to the vocational training, information actions and

knowledge dissemination.

By March 15, 2012, 5,653 young persons, out of which 2,259 women, were financially supported by

the measure for the setting-up young farmers implemented by the Managing Authority for the

National Rural Development Program.

In order to create alternative jobs for the population resident in rural areas, Ministry of Agriculture

and Rural Development financed under EARDF, through the National Rural Development

Programme, the investments in non-agricultural activities. 30 contracts aiming at setting-up and

developing the business in the non-agricultural sector were cancelled, so as the total number of new

set up SMEs decreased to 2,168. By March 15, 2012, 4,260 new jobs were created, following the

implementation of the above-mentioned projects.

By implementing measures dedicated to support tourism activities, under the EARDF 1,088 projects

were financed, out of which about 700 belong to persons younger than 40 years old, and women. By

March, 15, 2012, considering the effect on the labour market, the impact of the measure has not

proven to be satisfactory as barely 50 new jobs were created.

Complementary, ESF supported the long-term sustainability of rural areas. MMFPS contracted 268

projects for which the payments done amounted to 356.01 million lei, approx. 32.63% of the total

value of contracts. By February 24, 2012, 42,757 people participated in integrated programs

(counselling and vocational training, entrepreneurship courses). The share of persons who were

certified as a result of their participation in the training programs and got employed was about 4%.

The Law on National Education (LNE) No 1/2011 provides the general legal framework to reach the

national targets proposed within Europe 2020 strategy and, consequently, to implement those

measures proposed within Romanias NRP.

Amongst the subsequent legal acts deriving from the Law on National Education, there have been

adopted all planned for the first year after the adoption of the law. These regulations target access to

education, quality education and efficiency of educational process, opening education to other milieus

(economic, social, cultural, etc.). Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sports (MECTS) is

currently implementing the new legal provisions through education programs and projects, social

programs and programs designed for disadvantaged groups, while a significant number of these

programmes are co-funded by European funds.

Amongst the legal methodologies completed by MECTS, those contributing to education related

national targets in Europe 2020 aims at: subsidizing the costs of school attendance, both for high

school students from rural or disadvantaged schools, supporting the pre-university education private

and confessional accredited schools, management socio-economic groups and for those who attend

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Vocational Education and Training (VET) and operating the community centres on lifelong learning;

the use of Europass5 and Youthpass

6 tools.

In order to grant the necessary support to prevent early school leaving through implementation of

social programs, MECTS has already elaborated and issued the implementation methodologies for

School after school program which will be implemented at the beginning of each school year, at

school level, based on the decisions made by school management boards.

To support the return to school of early school leavers, MECTS has already elaborated and issued

the implementation methodologies for Second Chance program and it has elaborated the methodology

on Functional literacy program. All these programs will provide opportunities for early school

leavers to re-enter education. Moreover, through implementation of annually based social support

programs i.e. School supplies7, Money for high-school

8 and Euro 200

9 (all funded by state budget)

and the Croissant and milk program (funded by local budgets), framework conditions are created to

ensure equal access to education for students coming from disadvantaged groups.

Development of vocational education and training (VET), secondary (technological VET route)

and the post-secondary education is supported through funding from the state budget of education

vacancies for this types of education through teacher training programs in VET education as well as

via two projects funded by ESF-SOP HRD, namely: Correlating VET offer to labour market needs

and Improving the quality of education and vocational training through partnership networks.

Regarding the opening of school to the community and business environment, particularly in

disadvantaged areas, our efforts are focused towards development of key skills as a prerequisite for

social inclusion through projects funded by ESF - SOP HRD.

With regard to focusing teacher training on areas of impact / change fostering quality school

attainment, through ESF projects - SOP HRD, teachers were trained to develop new skills from

starting from early education up to upper and post secondary education.10

As for the school year 2011 - 2012, MECTS has started the implementation of priority actions,

detailed at the whole pre-university education through a Roadmap, aiming at following two major

lines of action: improving access for all students to quality education and increasing level of

education attainment by reducing school drop out, evaluation of learning for guiding and

optimization purposes and improving reading skills.

Following the start of measures taken to adapting higher education to labour market and increase

access to tertiary education, the share of population aged 30-34 years with tertiary education level

5 Europass is a EU initiative designed to increase transparency of qualifications and to foster citizens mobility throughout EU 6 Youthpass certificate is a document designed to recognize training outcomes and skills obtained by EU citizens within Youth in Action

Programme; the later aims at supporting those non-informal learning activities 7 There were 727,825 beneficiaries (pupils and students) in the school year 2010-2011 and 727,825 beneficiaries in the school year

2009-2010. 8 There were 121,145 beneficiaries (students) in the school year 2010-2011 (GD No 1488/2004 with subsequent amendments and

completions provides for the amount of Lei 180 for each student from families whose income is < 150 Lei), as against 128,475

beneficiaries in the school year 2010-2011. A downward trend in the number of beneficiaries can be perceived as a result of social

surveys conducted. 9 There were 22,440 beneficiaries (students) in the school year 2009-2010 and 21,598 students in the school year 2010-2012. There is

also a downward regarding the number of beneficiaries as a result of social surveys conducted. 10 For example, through the project Enhancing quality vocational education and training through partnerships networks whose

objective is to form partnerships networks amongst schools, there were trained 234 teachers in TVET.

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recorded in recent years an increase of 4.1 pps since 2008, rising from 16% in 2008 to 18.1% in 2010

and up to 20.5% in QIII/2011.

To create an objective selection framework to attract young people with skills towards

qualifications ensuring the implementation of a preset pattern of economic development pattern

and in order to match higher education to labour market needs, regular national studies were

initiated to link higher education with labour market requirements. Thus, through SOP HRD

Management of matching education with labour market which being is implemented in November

2010 - October 2013, aims at creating a network for qualitative and quantitative data collection and

development of tools, procedures and methodologies to improve and update permanent knowledge

and skills provided by the higher education according to labour market demands. At the end of the

third year of the project implementation it is expected to achieve an integrated tool for monitoring the

insertion of graduates into the labour market, designed to provide a real-time response to those people

aiming at becoming higher education students and wishing to lay the basis of a career based on

predictability.

In the last two years, several measures supporting the disadvantaged groups have been implemented.

As a result, in 2010, according to EU-SILC the relative poverty rate reached the level of 21.1% as

compared to 23.4% in 2008 (source: National Institute of Statistics and Eurostat). That means the

reduction of the number of people living in poverty by 466 thousand persons. In 2011, the analysis

indicates a slight improvement of the relative poverty rate, reaching the level of 21.0%. Therefore,

for 2011, the National Forecast Commission estimated a moderate reduction of the number of

people living in poverty by 500 thousand persons as compared to 2008.

The risk of poverty or social exclusion of older people in Romania is high, more than double than the

EU-27 average. The at-risk-of-poverty rate (which reflects income inequalities) is close to the EU-27

average, but the gender gap is much more visible. The situation is aggravated by the fact that health

care is the main spending item of a Romanian pensioner, and while medical treatment in many

Member States is almost entirely reimbursed by social security, this is not the case in Romania.

The most challenging element for the pension system is the demographic factor. The Romanian

population is expected to accelerate its decline, passing from 21.4 million inhabitants in 2008 to 16-

17 million in 2050 (accordingly to the APAPR NGO, 2012). This is equivalent to a reduction by

almost 25% as compared to the 1990 level. Combined with the increase in life expectancy, these

demographic tendencies will end up in a clear phenomenon of population ageing in the next three

decades.

The second important element affecting the system is the drastic reduction of the number of

contributors. The ratio between the number of persons contributing to the system and the number of

pension beneficiaries passed from 3.28 in 1990 to 1.04 in 2008.

The initiatives taken or to be taken within the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity

between Generations seek to encourage the decision makers (at any level) and all the involved parties

to mobilize and to take measures to encourage active ageing and a stronger solidarity between

generations. Active ageing means growing older in optimal conditions of health, having an active role

in society and achieving professional fulfilment, but also preserving autonomy in daily life and being

involved in civic activities.

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The global economic crisis has brought forth once again the importance of the proper functioning of

social assistance programs that have to protect the poor, at moderate costs. Generally speaking, social

protection systems are about (1) prevention (such as contributory insurance, pensions and

unemployment benefits) that are aimed at preventing poverty from affecting citizens; (2) protection

measures (such as non-contributory social assistance benefits) that are implemented in order to cover

for the basic needs of people affected by poverty; and (3) promotion measures (programs covering

employment and skills) that are implemented to help people affected by poverty to become

productive.

The social protection system in Romania covers all three elements above, but they are not properly

coordinated and the crisis has proved that the system is not flexible enough to be able to respond to

the ever-changing economic circumstances.

Social assistance is the last-resort safety net of the social protection system. Its purpose is to protect

people who, out of economic, physical, psychological or social reasons, are unable to secure their

own social needs, or to develop own capacities and competences in order to become socially

integrated. Access to social assistance benefits (essentially, money transfers) and social services is a

means whereby social cohesion is strengthened and social exclusion is diminished. In Romania, most

social assistance expenditures are used to finance social assistance benefits.

People affected by poverty and vulnerable people could not be easily directed towards the most

suitable part of the system, the system costs could no longer be supported/sustained fully and were

not properly directed towards the people who were affected by poverty.

Under these circumstances, we consider important to render the social assistance system more

efficient. The Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Protection has prepared a substantial Strategy to

Modernize the Romanian social assistance system, that focuses on social assistance benefits managed

by the MoLFSP, and identifies a set of problems and that proposes a number of measures to correct

these problems over 2011-2013. The Strategy was approved by the Government on 28th

February

2011 through a Memorandum.

The strategy focuses on a set of seven major social assistance benefits, according to the amount of

expenses and/or to the number of beneficiaries: state child allowance, child raising benefit, low

income family allowance, heating benefits, social aid to ensure the guaranteed minimum income,

monthly benefits and the personal complementary budget paid to disabled persons.

The analyses have been done in relation to the existing system have revealed a number of deficiencies

that could hamper the accomplishment of the objectives of public policies, maintaining high costs

without leading to the expected results. The followings were identified:

High fiscal cost, expenses related to social assistance benefits given by the MoLFSP and the

local government authorities have grown from 1.4% of the GDP in 2005 to 2.86% in 2010,

including social pensions and other benefits. Unfortunately this growth has not led to a visible

improvement of the indicators measuring the quality of life;

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The deterioration of the equitable distribution of benefits and of the share of amounts that

reach low income families, from about 48% in 2005 to 37.7% in 2009;

The high degree of fragmentation and complexity that artificially increase the accession costs

of the social benefits, high system administration expenditures, the level of errors and the fraud.

More specifically, the level of irregularities in the social aid programs and disabled benefits, in

2010, amounted to 12% and 14%, respectively;

A high level of dependence that reduces the aggregate labour supply; approximately 20% of

the adults of working age and work-able persons who are part of the families that get social

assistance benefits, meaning 2.2 million persons, do not work or they are neither included in the

educational system, nor in the vocational training system.

In order to correct these problems, the Government's plan is to adopt a new set of specific objectives

and measures that will lead to the following main results:

Fiscal savings of an estimated 0.78% of the GDP by 2013;

Increasing the share of expenses associated with social assistance benefits for the first deciles,

to reach about 50% of their total, in other words, focusing social assistance benefits on the

persons with the lowest incomes;

Reducing the beneficiaries' costs of access to social assistance benefits by nearly 20%, by

harmonising and simplifying the application and re-certification procedures;

Budget savings, by reducing errors and fraud found in the social security benefit system by up

to 0.1% GDP/year;

Reducing the number of persons having the age and capacity to work that are dependent on

the social security system by at least 100,000 (preliminary estimate);

Reducing the number of social assistance benefits administered by the MoLFSP from 14 to

less, by consolidating the social assistance benefits for low income families into one single

program represented by the minimum insertion income, as well as by consolidating the payments

to disabled persons.

The main adjustment measures that are specified in the strategy include the following:

Focusing on programs devoted to low income families (social aid, family allowances, heating

aid) to families in the first quintile;

Harmonizing the eligibility criteria for the programs devoted to low income families;

consolidate these programs into one single program, whose indicative title should be

"Minimum Insertion Income", for the year 2013;

Raise the co-accountability of those who get the minimum insertion income, by conditioning

the payment of benefits on the school results of children and on the active search for a job - in the

case of parents;

Reduce the costs of, and the period in which, child raising allowance is paid;

Consolidate payments to disabled persons into one single social security benefit and the

introduction of income testing for all beneficiaries who are part of wealthy families;

Performing checks (inspections) in all social assistance programs that are exposed to a high

risk of error or fraud (social aid, family benefits, heating aids, benefits paid to the disabled, child-

raising allowances);

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Increase the effectiveness of the social inspection activities, by introducing client profiling, a

system whereby irregularities can be reported, and an efficient sanctions policy;

Developing an integrated management information system, that should be used for paying

social assistance benefits, for detecting suspect fraud or error cases by cross-checking the

information in the public databases, as well as for supporting a result-based management model;

Interconnect the databases that refer to the social rights beneficiaries with other relevant data

sources (databases of the National Public Pensions House, the National Employment Agency, the

Births and Deaths Register, NATA);

Increasing the analysis, forecast, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation capacity of the

Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Protection.

The need to take measures to make the social assistance system more efficient is enhanced by the

general economic framework, which - against the background of the economic crisis - triggered a

number of severe budget constraints that affect the way in which social assistance is financed.

One major step in reforming the social assistance system in Romania, it was adopting of the new

framework law on social assistance, the Law No 292/2011 on social assistance published on

December 20, 2011. The law introduced a unitary approach of the social assistance system and its

components, namely the social benefit and social service systems, in order to increase the share of

services over the social benefits; classification, granting criteria and the organization and

administration of benefits and social services; regulation of contracting social services by private

providers; regulation of the calculation and setting up the amount of social benefits based on a single

indicator social reference indicator used to determine the unemployment benefits. One intended to

simplify the administrative procedures by setting up a single contact point for application, a single

application form, and strengthening some social benefits guaranteed minimum income, allowance

for family support and the aid for home heating focusing them on social categories placed at the

highest risk of poverty and social exclusion.

On December 14, 2011, the Romanian cabinet approved The Romanian Government Strategy for the

Roma Inclusion 2011 2020, aiming at including on the agenda of the central and local authorities

some measures for increasing the social and economic inclusion of this minority.

Ministry of Health (MH) carried on the national healthcare system reform. At the national level, in

order to improve the access to the healthcare services for the vulnerable persons, 18 preventive

and curative interventions for maternal and children health are under implementation on disease

prevention and early detection and health maintaining, disease cure, medical complication prevention

or at least pain relieve.

The Strategy on primary healthcare assistance and medical care services in rural areas for the

period 2012-2020 was completed by the consultant (Oxford Policy Management) on January 24, 2012

(the initial deadline was QIV/2011), accordingly MH will start the implementation of the measures

proposed by the Strategy.

In order to render more efficient the healthcare services, the Integrated Information System and

National Health Card programs are under implementation; and the Electronic Patient Card, e-

prescribing and the Application of decentralization in the health system projects are to be

14

implemented throughout 2012. In order to reorganize the hospitals and render them more efficient,

465 hospitals were classified, the legislation on multifunctional centres setting up was approved, and

the primary care and ambulatory care system was put into practice by creating a multifunctional

centre and other 192 permanence centres.

As for upgrading and modernizing the infrastructure of healthcare service providers and for

ensuring the medical apparatus/equipment and specific vehicles, the following measures have

been taken: (i) investment to the Regional Institute of Oncology in Iasi and Timisoara, and to other

six hospitals, (ii) rehabilitation of obstetrics and neonatology departments in 21 hospitals, (iii)

purchase of medical equipment for emergency medical units, for the departments providing maternal

and newborn services and for departments of cardiology and (iv ) purchase of 203 ambulances and a

helicopter.

1.2 Briefly present the content of the 2012 NSR, the coherence and complementary aspects in

relationship to the NRP.

As regards the coherence between the National Social Report and the National Reform Program, this

is ensured by the fact that both documents contain the goals, interventions areas and measures taken

or to be taken in the field of social inclusion. For Romania it is a priority to implement measures

targeted to the most disadvantaged groups, so that the reduced financial resources can be used

properly in order to get the desirable effects.

The key actions to achieve the social inclusion target in the National Reform Programme have been

grouped into four categories, for each of them there are foreseen measures to be implemented in a

proper manner by the responsible institutions. The four categories are: reform of the social assistance

system, active social inclusion, developing the infrastructure and national healthcare system reform.

2. REVIEW OF PROGRESS MADE AGAINST THE OVERARCHING OBJECTIVES OF

THE OMC

2.1 With reference to the three OMC overarching strands (social inclusion, pensions, health and

long-term care) and specific objectives (annex 1):

- provide assessment on the major challenges in pursuing these objectives;

- set out the priorities established by your country under each of the three strands of the Social OMC.

Starting with the year 2011, by adopting the Law No. 276/2010 for modification of the Law no.

416/2001 on guaranteed minimum income, Romania undertakes to grant the social aid so that a

minimum income is guaranteed to every citizen. The legislative modification stipulates that the

payment of the social aid to be made by the National Agency for Payments and Social Inspection

(ANPIS) through its local agencies, which will guarantee the payment of this right from the State

budget. The responsibility of the local public authorities/ municipalities consists of setting up the

right to grant the social benefit, based on documents submitted by the applicant, and on the social

investigation carried out by specialized services. It is regulated the suspension possibility of the social

15

aid in the case of families and single person who do not meet their monthly obligation to prove that

they are looking for a job, or that they did not refuse a job, and for those who do not submit a

quarterly statement on family members and the incomes. Also, it is provided the access to health

services by paying a contribution from the State budget to the Health social insurance for persons in

families receiving social aid. The financial resources are provided by the national budget.

In order to support the poorest families with children, the programme for granting complementary

family allowance and allowance for supporting the single parent family has been reviewed. This way,

it was set up a single allowance the allowance for family support. The new programme focuses this

type of financial transfer towards the families with extremely low-incomes (the first three deciles of

the population), and it provides a supplementary advantage by encouraging school attendance of

children from the beneficiary families, increasing the opportunities of ensuring the personal welfare

through the own efforts.

Starting with the 1st of January 2011, in order to increase the women participation on the labour

market, a new way of granting the child raising allowance was set up in Romania. Under this

programme, the parents can choose from two options of granting the parental leave allowance, the

legislation assures the employment protection of the beneficiaries, the employer is forbidden to

dismiss them for a period of six months after they return to work. The first option (parental leave and

child raising allowance until the child is one year old) provides a monthly allowance amounting 75%

of the net average income achieved in the last 12 months. The programme provides a professional

insertion subsidy; this amount may cover all costs or a part of the costs related to child daily-care, for

parents returning to work. The second option (parental leave up to the child is two years old) provides

a monthly allowance, amounting 75% of the net average income achieved in the last 12 months, with

no subsidy for the professional insertion.

During the period 2011-2013, in order to increase the life quality of persons belonging to vulnerable

groups, including older people, Romania is to reorganize and modernize the system of social

services. The law on social assistance establishes a new classification and definition of the social

services in order to facilitate the access to services of all categories of people in need, including

elderly persons, and providing the system sustainability at the same time.

In the year 2011, in order to protect the vulnerable groups of children and young people that need a

special attention, certain laws are to be drafted. These laws aim at: reviewing the quality standards of

services preventing the child being separated from parents and the services dedicated to child

temporarily or permanently separated from parents; developing the cost standards for counselling

services; regulating the family support for children care and education and the organization and

functioning of family care services.

During the period 2011-2012, in order to improve the life quality of disabled children, children

suffering from HIV/ AIDS and serious/ terminal chronic illnesses, children in special protection,

Romania undertake to set up the rehabilitation centres and homes and/ or flats. Implementing this

initiative, 24 new homes and/ or flats and two recovery centres will be set up, so that 300 children,

16

including those with special educational needs, suffering from HIV/ AIDS can receive quality

specialized care.

Also, for 2011-2013, Romania supports the social integration of disabled children/ youth and

assures their access to rehabilitation services and specialized medical care. To that effect, services for

children/ young people suffering from autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) will be diversified, a network

of counselling centres and specialized care for young people with ASD will be set up and a national

strategy on social and professional integration of these people will be drafted.

During the period 2011-2013, aiming at active social inclusion and increasing the women

participation on the labour market, Romania undertakes to set up the standardized public day-care

system for children. It is established the public network of qualified and accredited nurses and the

monitoring system to assure the quality of these services. Implementing the initiative will lead to the

following results: drafting the rules for the application of legislation on the set up, organization and

function of the child day-care services; setting up within the local authorities (municipal, city and/ or

villages) at least 35 departments for management and coordination of child day-care services; the

selection of 2,115 women to be qualified as a nurse; issuing occupational standards for the

qualification of nurse working at home, and the vocational training to acquire this qualification;

developing the methodology for quality assurance of child day-care services at nurse home and the

curriculum for training of supervisors in the local/ county councils.

During the period 2011-2013, in order to prevent the school drop out among children belonging to

disadvantaged socio-economic groups, MMFPS and MECTS are involved, in partnership with non-

governmental organizations, in a project aiming at providing educational services for these children.

Implementing this initiative will lead to the following results: set up 32 school training centres;

financial support granted to 7,680 children aged between 6 and 16 years that are from disadvantaged

communities or Roma ethnics to be sent to kindergarten and/ or to school.

For an active participation of people at risk of poverty and of disadvantaged communities to

implement the most appropriate measures for combating poverty, Romania plans to create the

appropriate framework in order to facilitate the access and participation of persons belonging to

vulnerable groups in the labour market.

Romanian authorities aim to develop income-generating activities and services to help people at risk

of social exclusion to integrate or reintegrate into the labour market; to create social economy

enterprises; to implement specific programmes for (re) integration into the labour market of persons

belonging to vulnerable groups and training programmes for acquiring basic skills and qualifications

needed on the labour market. The beneficiaries are the Roma people, persons with disabilities, and

young people under 18 years old leaving institutional child-care, persons living on the minimum

guaranteed income, homeless, people living in isolated communities.

As regards the active social inclusion, by February 24, 2012, ESF financed 60 projects facilitating

the access of the persons belonging to vulnerable groups to the labour market. The payments

amounted 228.86 million lei (about 32.60% from the total value of the contracts), 6,855 persons

17

belonging to vulnerable groups participated in the qualification/retraining and professional conversion

programmes, out of which 1,483 Roma, 1,070 disabled, 19 young people leaving the public child care

system, and 685 drug and alcohol addicted persons. The share of participants to the training/retraining

programmes which obtained the certification was 66%.

The draft Law on social economy is at the final stage of elaboration. On December 14, 2011, the

project has been published on the MMFPS website, in order to be submitted to the public

consultation. MMFPS postponed the completion of this action, for the QIV/2012, in order to achieve

the consultation of all stakeholders and to follow the chronological order of legislative procedure

required for the adoption of the normative act. The postponement of the action deadline was caused

by the large number of the stakeholders involved, which called for the extension of the consultation

period.

By February 24, 2012, MDRT contracted 30 projects conceived to improve the quality of the social

services through the rehabilitation of the social infrastructure, including the social housing for

disadvantaged persons11

. The payments amounted 5,118 million lei, which represents only 4.7% of

the total value of the contracts. One single project intended for rehabilitating and modernizing the day

nursery for elderly persons in Alba Iulia is finalized, having a lodging capacity of 100 persons.

Analyzing the regional distribution of this type of projects, one could notice that most of them are

located in the following regions: North West region eight contracts, North East region seven

contracts, Centre region six contracts. MDRT contracted one project on rehabilitating the social

housing, located in the North West region.

By February 24, 2012 with regard the rehabilitation / modernization / equipping of the health

services infrastructure12

9 health units were finalized rehabilitation, the payments amounting 34.614

million lei. Considering the finalized projects, the rehabilitated health units stand for 17% of the total

value allocated under Regional Operational Programme (ROP). Most of the finalized projects are

located in the North West region - three rehabilitated health units, North East and South East regions -

two rehabilitated health units each, and in West and South West regions - one rehabilitated health unit

each.

The project intended to the rehabilitation of the Emergency Hospital from Vlcea County was

contracted by ROP on September 9, 2011, is included in the List of the priority projects financed by

the Structural and the Cohesion Funds. Although the implementation pace of this project is very low

(3%); one estimates that, after the hospital rehabilitation, the number of persons benefiting by the

medical services will increase by 12.5%.

By February 24, 2012, with regard rehabilitation/ modernisation/ equipping of the social services

infrastructures13

26 social centres were finalized, the payments for these centres amounting to

30.527 million lei. As compared to the target proposed in ROP for rehabilitated social centres, the

number of finalized projects represents approximately 9.6%. Most of the finalized contracts are

11 ROP, KAI 1.1. - Integrated urban development plans 12 ROP, KAI 3.1. - Rehabilitation, modernization and equipment of health service infrastructure

18

located in the North East region eight contracts, South East region four contracts, Centre and

North West region three contracts each.

By February 24, 2012, with regard improving the equipment of the operational units for public

safety interventions in emergency situations14

40 mobile units (within a single finalized contract)

were equipped. The payments made for these projects amounted 29.197 million lei. As compared to

the target proposed in ROP for the equipped mobile units, the number of the finalized projects

represents only 8%. Considering the regional distribution of the projects, one may noticed that two

contracts on the improvement of the operational basis of SMURD (Emergency Mobile Service for

Resuscitation and Disentanglement), consisting of purchasing 98 equipments, are located in North

East region.

By February 24, 2012, 38 pre-university school units dedicated to the rehabilitation, modernization,

development and equipment of preuniversity, university education and continuous vocational

training infrastructures15

were rehabilitated, representing only 29.23% as compared to the target

proposed in ROP. The payments made for these projects amounted 65.42 millions lei. Analyzing the

regional distribution of these projects, we may notice that most of the finalized contracts are located

in South East region twelve rehabilitated school units and North West region ten rehabilitated

school units.

The access to social benefits and social services is the proper tool to strengthen the social cohesion

and to reduce the social exclusion for people who are unable to ensure their social needs, and to

develop their own capabilities and skills in order to be socially integrated. The necessary intervention

areas:

- Harmonisation of eligibility criteria for programmes dedicated to low income families

and to strengthen programmes for families with low incomes in a single programme, named

minimum insertion income

- A testing activity for incomes of rich families and an inspection of all programmes of social assistance with a high risk of error or fraud (social allowance, family benefit, heating

allowance, benefit for disabled persons, child allowance).

- Implementation of management system of information for the payment of social

benefit and for finding suspect cases of errors or fraud by cross cutting checking of data in

public data basis

- Achievement of the interconnection of the systems of data basis regarding the

beneficiaries of social rights with other data sources (data basis of National House of Public

Pensions National Agency for Employment, Civil Register, National Agency for Fiscal

Administration)

- Development of social services for vulnerable groups, including elderly persons

- Increasing the quality of life of children with disabilities, HIV / AIDS and serious

chronic illness / terminal diseases, and children in special protection

13 ROP, KAI 3.2. - Rehabilitation, modernization, development and equipment of social service infrastructure 14 ROP, KAI 3.3. - Improving the equipment of operational units for public safety interventions in emergency situations 15 ROP, KAI 3.4. - Rehabilitation, modernisation, development and equipment of pre-university, university education and continuous

vocational training infrastructure

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- Social insertion of children/young people with disabilities - Establishing the standardized public system in day care for children

- Preventing school drop-out among children from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups

- Facilitating the access and participation of the persons belonging to vulnerable groups

in the labour market

- Completing the legal framework for social economy

- Support balanced development of cities through integrated urban development plans,

social infrastructure, including social housing projects

- Reducing the regional disparities and improving social infrastructure, health and

education

- Implementation of national health programs to respond to priority public health issues

and needs of vulnerable groups.

Among the priority areas for these programmes we mention:

- Monitoring the determinants factors of living and working environment, preventive

and curative interventions in the health of women and children, providing treatment abroad for

patients with diseases that cannot be treated in the country, ensuring access to medicines

granted at home only for pensioners with incomes realized just from pensions to 700 lei /

month.

- Implementing the Strategy on primary health care and medical services in rural

environment in order to provide medical assistance in isolated and economically

disadvantaged areas

2.2 Report on any policy change (not only in the areas of social protection and social inclusion)

that your Government has decided to pursue in 2012 with possible impact on the three strands of

the Social OMC.

3. REDUCING POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION

3.1 With regard to your national poverty target, provide information on latest state of play and

expected target by 2020; where relevant, make cross-references to the relevant parts of the

National Reform Programmes;

In the last two years, several measures supporting the disadvantaged groups have been implemented.

As a result, in 2010, according to EU-SILC30 the relative poverty rate reached the level of 21.1%

as compared to 23.4% in 2008 (source: National Institute of Statistics and Eurostat). That means the

reduction of the number of people living in poverty by 466 thousand persons. In 2011, the analysis

indicates a slight improvement of the relative poverty rate, reaching the level of 21.0%. Therefore,

for 2011, the National Forecast Commission estimated a moderate reduction of the number of

people living in poverty by 500 thousand persons as compared to 2008. In addition to poverty,

other social concerns include:

20

o declining fertility;

o an aging population;

o relatively low labour market participation;

o a large share of work-age population depending on social assistance benefits;

o relatively weak education outcomes of school-aged children living in poor or

vulnerable households.

3.2 Highlight the main measures taken or to be taken by your country in relation to reducing

poverty and social exclusion; in particular, Member States are invited to refer to the

implementation of the EU-level common principles on active inclusion strategies and to the three

pillars therein (access to services; active labour market policies and minimum income);

Measures for reducing poverty and social exclusion

The projects designed to reduce the social exclusion among children and young people are under

implementation:

- To improve the quality of social services for children, MMFPS financed the purchase

of eight apartments that can accommodate at least 64 children by The Programme of national

interest No 1 Closing the old style institutions and establishment of rehabilitation centres,

family houses and/or apartments. For these eight apartments the furniture purchasing

procedures were completed, and for other eight family type houses and two rehabilitation

centres, MMFPS started the public procurement procedures for the commissioning of the

execution contracts of the construction works;

- To integrate the children/young people with disabilities, within the project - They

should have a chance! Support programme for social and professional integration of the

persons with autism spectrum disorders16

, 588 doctors, psychologists and psycho-pedagogues,

specialists in the recovery of young people with autism spectrum disorders have participated

in training courses, out of which 325 persons were certificated. 40 caring and counselling

centres have been established in partnership with local public authorities, and they have been

equipped with furniture and IT equipment. Also, the final version of the National Strategy for

social and professional integration of the autism disorders spectrum people was drafted;

- To prevent the school drop out among children belonging to disadvantaged socio-

economic communities, 32 guidance centres and resources for inclusive education were

financed by the project The Guidance and Resources Centre for Inclusive Education

comprehensive educational services to prevent and correct the school drop out17

. The centres

were established in 30 counties North West region, South East region, South Muntenia

region, South West Oltenia region and Center region and in Bucharest, districts 2 and 5.

However, 82 persons have participated in the training courses, and 3,437 children received

educational services within the project. Starting with January 23, 2012, the project was

suspended for a period of three months, because the reimbursement applications were

evaluated later and the payments were made with large delays by the Intermediate Body SOP

HRD;

16 The project is implemented by the Romanian Angel Apeeal Foundation as a beneficiary, MLFSP as a partner in the project. 17 Project implemented by the Save Children Organization as a beneficiary, MLFSP as a partner.

21

- To set up a standardized public system of the day-care system for children 665

women were selected to be qualified for the occupation of babysitter within the project

Women for women training and accreditation program for women in the occupation of

babysitter employed in the public system18

. Three training sessions have been already initiated

in Bucharest.

The measures which are to be implemented in the social assistance field in accordance with the main

new elements included in the new Law no 292/2011 of social assistance are:

Establishing a new method for determining the amounts and levels of social benefits

(by applying a coefficient of equivalence on the social reference indicator used to determine

some unemployment insurance rights);

Targeting the most disadvantaged segments of the population in order to reduce

poverty and to prevent the risk of marginalization or exclusion, by assessing social assistance

measures in terms of effectiveness and efficiency so that those measures can be constantly

adapted and adjusted to the real needs of the beneficiaries;

Simplifying the range of social benefits and social services from 54 to 9 and their

reporting on social reference indicator, a link for the whole system of social protection in

Romania;

Establishing the minimum insertion income (representing the limit expressed in RON

that ensures basic needs of life, measured in terms of absolute poverty/relative/ the similar

indicator used in the Member States of the European Union, established in the 2020 Strategy);

Creating the regulatory framework for contracting social services as a way of outsourcing the management and granting them to private providers.

Empowering the beneficiaries through: Involving them in client-tailored programmes of recovery/rehabilitation/social

reinsertion;

Providing social benefits based on compliance with conditions (school attendance, participation in training/professional qualifications, community

work);

Combining employment services with the social assistance measures granted in order to prevent and limit any form of state or community aid dependence, thus

contributing to the beneficiaries integration on the labour market.

Social assistance measures integration, granted into a correlated and complementary way, if their effect is similar on beneficiaries, social services take precedence over social

benefits;

Implementing an integrated IT system;

Administrative simplification by the introduction of a single application form for applying for social benefits supported from the state budget;

Encouraging public-public partnerships and public-private partnerships for the development of social services.

Active labour market policies

It is intended that through the process of amending the legal framework governing the unemployment

insurance system and employment stimulation to facilitate transitions from unemployment or

18 Project implemented by the Romanian Angel Apeeal Foundation as a beneficiary and MLFPS as a partner.

22

inactivity to employment to reduce the incidence of unemployment, including long-term

unemployment and youth unemployment.

This will be achieved mainly through:

Promoting labour market participation of young people at risk of social exclusion by

encouraging employers who hire young people belonging to this category. For every hired young

person, the insertion employers may benefit monthly, at their request, from the unemployment

insurance budget, by an amount equal to the base salary set at the hiring date, but no more than

2.2 X value of the reference social indicator in force at that date. The amount is granted for a

period equal to the solidarity contract concluded between PES and the young people, up to three

years but not less than one year. Also, the insertion employers may benefit, for a period of

maximum two years, of a monthly amount equal to 50% of the unemployment benefit, which the

young would have received in case of dismissal at the expiration date of the individual

employment contract, provided that after this date the employer concludes an open-ended

individual employment contract with the young at risk of social marginalization (approximately

2,300 persons per year);

Supporting employers in order to achieve the insertion of people receiving minimum income

in the labour market, by providing monthly, from unemployment insurance budget, an amount

equal to 40% of the reference social indicator to employers who hire such persons, with the

obligation to maintain the contractual relationship with these people for at least 24 months

(approximately 10,000 persons per year);

Subsidies granted from the unemployment insurance budget to employers, in order to support

the reintegration on the labour market of women with dependent children under 6 years

(approximately 47,500 persons per year);

Granting a professional allowance during participation in a training program, worth 50% of

the social reference indicator for people who do not receive unemployment benefit, to encourage

the participation of social vulnerable people in continuous vocational training programmes (about

10,500 people yearly);

Granting mobility bonuses to long-term unemployed, measure that aims to stimulate

geographical mobility by providing employment bonus (2 X the reference social indicator value)

and installation bonus (7 X the reference social indicator value) - (approximately 2,000 persons

per year);

Granting a transport allowance to facilitate the participation of unemployed registered at PES

in active measures provided by the law (information and counselling, labour mediation,

counselling and assistance in starting an independent activity or a business). This measure aims to

activation of long-term unemployed and making them more responsible with regard to their

employment (about 357,000 persons per year); (about 357,000 persons per year);

Providing free services for assessment the skills acquired in other ways than the formal ones,

in order to facilitate and speed up the process of obtaining a professional competence certificate

(about 400 persons per year).

23

3.3 Describe the measures which are in place or which are to be implemented in response to this

target. Highlight the target groups at particular risk of poverty or social exclusion (including Roma

people and migrants) and describe the specific policy measures for them.

Professional integration is a viable way out of poverty and a source of protection against social

exclusion in Romania. In order to facilitate labour market integration of job seekers, the Ministry of

Labour, Family and Social Protection promotes the access to active measures funded from

unemployment insurance budget and implemented through annual programs, by the National Agency

for Employment.

In general, implementation of these measures is oriented towards balanced representation of all

categories of persons seeking work, focusing on measures of labour mediation, information and

counselling/career guidance and provision of customized packages of active employment

measures.

Romania promotes the employment among the Roma people through an integrated approach, of

an active social inclusion type. Measures for employment have in view both for the labour

mediation in order to facilitate the direct access to a job (job fairs for Roma), as well as for the

measures related to information and career counselling, professional training and social promotion to

deal with problems faced by certain Roma families / communities are facing from the perspective of

poverty and social exclusion.

For the employment of the registered people, the National Employment Agency (NEA), taking into

account the social and professional characteristics of the registered people, applied customized

stimulus packages to integrate or reintegrate as rapidly as possible on the labour market.

For 2011, the NEA has foreseen the participation at free training courses for 1057 Roma people, out

of which 334 are Roma women. By the end of December 2011, the number of unemployed Roma

enrolled in the training courses was of 898 people, out of 46,687 people.

Analyzing the labour market requirements and in order to provide support to disadvantaged

categories to find a job, it was considered useful to nationally organize job fairs for Roma people

living in towns with population that mainly belongs to this category.

For professional reintegration of Roma people, the Employment Programme for 2011 included The

Programme 145, especially for communities with a large number of Roma people. It was estimated

that 2.250 Roma people are to be employed, approximately 39% of the total number of Roma people

proposed to be employed in 2011. The special programme emphasises the custom-tailored actions,

especially the labour mediation and counselling. As a result of the programme implementation, 2,444

persons have been employed, up to 31.12.2011.

At the end of 2010, the ministries of the Romanian Government with attributions on Roma issue have

signed the Protocol of Cooperation to organize Mobile Unit Support for support the local public

administration in developing and implementing projects founded by external grants for social

inclusion and labour market on the benefit of Romanian citizens of Roma minority.

24

Main lines of action are: identification of funding and opportunities currently available, evaluation of

possible projects and preparation in view of 2014 when new financial allocations will be determined.

Various institutions in the country (management authorities) responsible for managing the European

funds have communicated that most of the funds have been already contracted until the next financial

allocation.

To limit the possibility of the occurrence of complications during the voluntary repatriation from

France of Romanian citizens of Roma minority, at the airport have always been representatives of the

Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Protection and the National Agency for

Roma (NAR).

Leaflets have been developed to inform the Romanian citizens of Roma minority repatriated from

France about how to find a job through the NAE or how to be included in projects developed by the

NAR.

Voluntary returnees lists were sent to local authorities and competent institutions in management

actions on social inclusion and labour market, who contacted the Romanian citizens of Roma

minority repatriated in order to assist them in the re / integration.

ESF through HRD SOP has defined as vulnerable Roma people target group - Priority Axis 6

"Promoting social inclusion" contributes significantly to the implementation of programmes/projects

meant to promote the access to labour market for Roma people and participation in education,

training, social inclusion measures, etc.

By mid 2011, at the HRD SOP were registered about 90 projects with primary or secondary target

group of Roma people.

Of these projects only about one third are for the life improvement and integration of Roma

communities and the value of these contracts amounts to approximately 100 million euro.

More than half of the projects are submitted on key areas of intervention aimed almost directly at

eliminating the risks that Roma minority is exposed.

From the data result that the absorption of European funds programs with primary or secondary target

group Roma minority is higher than overall.

4. ADEQUATE AND SUSTAINABLE PENSIONS

Considering the prolonged financial crisis, it was mandatory for Romania to adopt measures meant to

ensure the accomplishment of the commitments agreed with the IMF and the EU, in order to

minimise damages and reach the budget deficit target.

One of these commitments is the pension system reform and the design of a new law to ensure

sustainability of public pension system, which would establish a unitary public pension system for all

professional categories.

25

The draft law was adopted in 2010 and so the Law no. 263/2010 regarding the unitary public pension

system repealed the Law no. 19/2002 regarding the public pension system and other social insurance

rights.

The main domains reformed by Law no. 263/2010 (the new Pension Law) are as follows:

Broadening the scope of compulsory insurance by integrating the unified public pension

system for persons included in special systems (military pensions), and persons who received

income from liberal professions;

Improving the financial sustainability of the pension system by introducing more

restrictive conditions on access to early partial retirement and disability pension;

Maintaining the pensioners living standard by maintaining the purchasing power

through linking the pension to the inflation rate (100%) and real growth of average gross

earnings (50%), beginning with January 2013;

Ensuring fair treatment of insured persons, future retirees by regulating the pension

formula ensuring direct correlation with the amount of paid social contributions;

Discouraging early retirement by increasing the penalty coefficient to 45% (0,75% for

every month of early retirement);

Implementation of more stringent eligibility criteria for invalidity pension and intensify

subsequent controls;

Increasing the retirement age for women from 60 years to 63 years gradually until 2030

and the equalization of the complete contribution stage for women and men to 35 years,

gradually until 2030.

5. ACCESIBLE, HIGH-QUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE AND LONG-

TERM CARE

5.1. Improving accessibility and quality of medical services

During 2011, there have been some improvements in the field of health care in terms of providing

the population with quality and competitive medical services according to its needs.

Thus, the national health programmes were implemented meeting the objectives and priorities of

public health policies:

- the national immunization campaigns, which were accompanied by health promoting

campaigns;

- promote voluntary blood donation, recruitment and mentioning of the blood donors and ensuring

transfusion security;

- specific activities with healing purpose, thus ensuring the necessary funds for carrying out

procedures of interventional cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ and tissue transplants

for patients with irreversible organ failure or ensuring access to specific treatment for patients

diagnosed with oncology diseases, diabetes, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, etc.

26

It should be mentioned that, in order to improve prevention measures and considering the fact that

uterine cancer is a new cause of cancer mortality of women in Romania - after breast cancer and the

first cause of cancer mortality of women in the age group of 25 - 44 years, constituting a public health

problem, with significant social costs, in 2012 began Screening program for uterine cancer.

Ministry of Health together with Oxford Policy Management, and all the other stakeholders involved

in primary health care have developed a Strategy for primary medical care for the period 2012-2020.

The strategy aims to develop primary health care in general, and especially for rural and underserved

areas by attracting and retaining medical staff in these areas and developing pharmaceutical points to

allow easier access to drugs to served population.

An important chapter is the development of a network of Round-the-Clock Medical Centres in rural

and isolated areas and their appropriate funding.

Currently, a total of 195 round-the-clock medical centres are functioning (187 stationary and 8

mobile), and a total of 50 round-the-clock medical centres are currently in the establishment

procedure.

Also, community medical assistance services have been developed, which ensure the provision of

integrated medical and social services, flexible and appropriate for the need of the beneficiaries, in

particular, vulnerable persons, provided in their living environment and which allow efficient use

services provided in the basic package, emphasizing prevention and continuity of services.

Also, in order to ensure the quality of medical services, began the process of accreditation of

hospitals, a total of 223 clinical guidelines have been adopted and continued the process of

developing and modernization of medical units and equipment of medical units with medical devices,

equipment and specific means of medical transportation.

5.2. Describe the actions taken in your country to ensure financial sustainability of the health and

long-term care systems (including cost-containment, co-payments, de-reimbursement of drugs,

increase of hospital fees, and transfer of activities to the private sector).

Another objective of health reform is the provision of sustainable and efficient financing of the health

system, both by changing hospital funding through the health insurance system, and by reshaping

demand for medical services. In this respect, some measures have been taken:

# Implementing the National Strategy for the Rationalization of Hospitals - aimed at reducing

admissions in hospitals, with concomitant development of ambulatory and primary care:

Restructuring the hospital network: transforming hospitals into multifunctional

centres, round-the-clock medical centres, specialized medical centres, the reorganization of 28

hospitals as outer sections and the transformation into homes for elderly of a total of 64 health

units.

Reducing excessive hospital admission capacity: the National Plan for Beds was

implemented for 2011-2013 under which the beds will reach a total number of 123,127 in

2013, so that Romania should be approaching the European average.

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Classification of hospitals: a clear classification system of hospitals was adopted, in 5

categories that allow a coherent representation of the relations of hospitals and changed the

financing of hospitals, depending on their classification.

# Drafting legislation on the introduction of co-payment - Implementation of the co-payment will

be made during 2012;

# Redefining the basic medical services package by restricting the use of some drugs for those

therapeutic prescriptions which are not in the marketing authorization of the manufacturer, or for

which there is not a clear scientific evidence of a positive risk/benefit balance;

# Introducing the claw-back mechanism for pharmaceuticals has generated solutions for revenue

growth in the health sector and it reduced the financial losses;

# Replacing the original with generic drugs in netted or free list of medicines, this measure

allowing more patients to have access to treatment without increasing budgets for various national

programs;

# Computerization of the health system: implementation of National Health Card and of

Electronic Patient Data and e-Prescribing projects, which will result in the establishment of patient

medical records, and the efficiency of processes for prescribing and issuing receipts;

# Developing new regulations in the field of health care the Ministry of Health develops a new

Law on organizing and functioning of the health care system in Romania, intending to:

Reorganize the mandatory and voluntary health insurance system;

Achieve the financial balance and ensure equitable accessibility to health services;

Increase the autonomy of health care units;

Develop the emergency care;

Reorganize the primary medical care sector;

Evaluate and increase the quality control of medical services.