BUCHAREST (Romania), October 5 (SeeNews) – Some 800,000 employees from Romania's public sector went on strike on Monday to protest against a wage bill designed to cut government spending and backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), local media reported.
Police officers, medical doctors, teachers and civil servants stopped work, calling for a renegotiation of the new wage law and for an end to lay-offs in the public sector, private broadcaster Antena 3 reported. Trade unions also plan a massive protest rally against the controversial wage legislation in Bucharest on Wednesday.
The wage bill is a key requirement in the 20-billion euro ($29 billion) IMF-led agreement which Romania signed in March. It is part of a broader reform package that includes restructuring of the public sector and overhauling the education system.
The general strike comes less than a week after the break-up of the country’s two-party government coalition and less than two months before Romania’s presidential elections.
($ =0.6843 euro)