The union of public managers in Romania is protesting a government intention to drop a 55% bonus aimed at attracting EU-trained youth to work in the public administration. The annulment of this bonus is mentioned in a draft emergency ordinance eliminating bonus payments in the budget sector.

The union of public managers numbers less than 200 people and does not have enough leverage in negotiations with the Labor Ministry. They say that by dropping the bonus for public managers may lead to losing PHARE funds amounting to some 36 million euro, which would not be compensated by cutting spending with these public officers. And they warn many public managers are considering leaving the system because they would no longer be materially stimulated.

Public managers are active at all levels of the public administrations and are responsible with managing European funded projects.