29 May, 2020

Romania to further ease restrictions as of 1 June./ Government to support people going back to work and employers./ Renault to freeze expansion plans in Romania.

Newsroom, 29.05.2020, 13:55

Coronavirus Romania. The coronavirus
death toll rises to 1,240 in Romania, while confirmed infections near 19,000. Some
12,800people have recovered. The largest
number of infections was reported in Suceava county, in the north-east, and in
Bucharest. President Klaus Iohannis has announced a further easing of
restrictions, with outdoor bars and cafes to reopen and access to beaches allowed
as of 1st June. As of this date, outdoor performances and sports
competitions will also be permitted, international road and rail travel
services will resume and all restrictions for out-of-town travel will be
lifted.

Coronavirus
world. Coronavirus cases worldwide pass 5.9 million. Almost 2.9 million people
have recovered and more than 360,000 have died. In Brazil, which is considered
the new epicentre of the pandemic, the death toll passes 26,700. In South
Korea, hundreds of schools are closing again just days after reopening following
a fresh outbreak of the virus. In the meantime, more and more European states
are easing restrictions. The French government has announced the reopening of
bars, cafes and restaurants beginning on 2nd of June. Italy plans to
allow its citizens to travel freely within the country beginning next Wednesday
and even to open its borders for the Schengen states and the UK without a
14-day quarantine on arrivals.

Schools. Romanian pupils in their
final secondary and high school years will return to school on 2nd
June for ten days to prepare for their upcoming national exams. Education
minister Monica Anisie said, however, that attendance is optional. The
authorities have decided to go ahead with the established timetable for
examinations, namely 15th June for secondary school exams and high
school exams beginning a week later, on the 22nd June. All schools
were closed in Romania on 11th March because of the coronavirus
pandemic with teaching being conducted online, and will only reopen in autumn.

Support. The Romanian government has adopted a series
of measures to support the employees returning to work after 1st
June, as well as employers. The state is to cover salary costs for the next
three months, with employers undertaking to maintain the respective jobs for a
further six months. The areas that will still be affected after 1st
June will also be identified, with the furlough scheme to still be supported by
the state. Around 430,000 employment contracts have been terminated and some
596,000 suspended because of the health crisis generated by the novel
coronavirus.

No-confidence. Simple no-confidence motions will be submitted next week against the Liberal ministers for labour, Violeta Alexandru, and regional development, Ion Stefan, said the Social Democratic Party, the largest opposition party in Romania. The move comes after four similar recent motions passed by Parliament against the finance, agriculture, interior and education ministers, who were criticised for their handling of their respective areas during the coronavirus crisis. The Social Democrats even threaten to submit a no-confidence motion against the Liberal minority government if the latter amends a pensions law providing for a 40% increase in pensions beginning this autumn.

Renault. The French car maker Renault has unveiled an
extensive cost-saving plan part of which some 15,000 jobs will be cut
worldwide, including 4,600 in France. The group also says it will freeze plans
to expand production capacity in Romania and Morocco. France Presse news agency
quotes experts as saying that Renault was facing a weakening of its brand in
Europe and difficulties in its alliance with the Japanese companies Nissan and
Mitsubishi even before the coronavirus crisis. According to specialists,
between 2009 and 2019, Renault managed, however, to increase its market share
in Europe by more than 1% to reach 10.5%, this achievement being linked
exclusively to the Romanian brand Dacia, which saw its sales double. Dacia was
taken over by Renault in 1999 and relaunched in 2004 with the Logan car,
becoming in the following years a significant player on the European car
market. (CM)