Shortage of employees' in social assistance field

Authorities seek solutions to problems that facing the welfare system, related primarily to staff lack .

Ministry of Labour and Social Protection submitted to public debate until the end of this week, a legislative initiative that intends to exclude a part of blocked positions by the restrictions imposed to budgetary system.

Welfare issues are in the government’s debate on Wednesday which would talk about a new law to reform the system mainly by introducing some quality standards of services and staff.

Employees representatives doubt, however, that imposing additional conditions will facilitate to attract working in system , currently difficult, because of spending reductions in public system.

5,000 jobs is the estimated deficit of employees representatives of social assistance field.

Most social assistants have left because of very low wages in this area, but were released positions, following redundancies in the public sector.

Trade unionists believe that jobs releasing will not be enough without a significant increase in wages.

President of the National Trade Union Federation of General Welfare and Child Protection, Radu Lita, estimates that in some areas participation at employment competition will be almost non-existent, considering the discrepancy between wages and responsibilities involved in this field.

"It works on shelters, on adult care centers. There are shifts. It works on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays on these amounts - 600-700lei," said Radu Lita.

He said that most of them leave for Italy and Germany in the same field -elderly care, adult problems. Salaries start from about 800 euros.

In addition to low wages and high responsibilities, employees in the social assistance field are also dissatisfied with the frequent wages delays as correspondent Alina Darie says.

Releasing positions on social assistance field is welcome, also representatives of county councils involved in this sector support the same idea , who complain on staff lack .

Nicoleta Molnar, executive director of the General Welfare in Cluj, warned that for the sector efficiency is needed 70 jobs.

"It is a sector in which work directly with beneficiary is very important to be made ​​by qualified personnel and sufficient number of people, as this tend to offer quality services and follow our purpose we operate," declared Nicoleta Molnar.

Translated by

Denisse-Meda Bucura

MTTLC, Bucharest University