Interior Ministry Layoff Bill Fails To Pass Lower House

05.24.2011 By Bostan Radu

The bill on layoffs in the Romanian Interior Ministry received too few votes in the Chamber of Deputies and did not pass, to the satisfaction of the union members watching the meeting, who cheered and applauded.

The bill received 150 votes for, 132 against and eight abstentions. It needed 167 votes in favor to pass.

Previously, the bill was rejected by the Senate.

The National Union of Police and Contracted Personnel (SNNPC) said the bill will lay off over 9,500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters, as well as terminate a series of rights to which they are entitled. In addition, unionists say, the bill is contrary to the Strategy for public order adopted by the Government through a decision in 2010.

The union held a protest outside the Parliament last week, calling on the lawmakers to reject the bill.