The rate of absolute poverty sees 7.4% Romanians having to live with spending no more than $3 per day in 2009 due to the economic crisis. Elsewhere in the news, visa “dealers” work in front of the Romanian embassy in Chisinau, allegedly supported by the Romanian staff. Last but not least, an EU scheme supports employing people from the rural areas in Romania.
The rate of absolute poverty sees 7.4% Romanians having to live with spending no more than $3 per day in 2009 due to the economic crisis downturn, according to World Bank (WB) and UNICEF forecasts, Cotidianul informs. The number of Romanian citizens barely affording a living will increase this year, from 1.22 million - the figure for 2008 - to 1.6 million, the forecasts go on. The number of poor children will see an accentuated rise: from 250,000 to 350,000. The problem arises after a constant increase in the economy during the last years and a drop in the number of poor people, from 2.1 million in 2007 to 1.2 million in 2008.
Poverty will record a greater level in the rural areas, but it will see a rise in the cities, as a result of the unemployment brought by the current economic environment. 55% of the poor population will be made up by agriculture workers, people without a labour contract. The retired and housewives are also featured among the poor. The World Bank criticises Romania for its lack of social protection. Romania is the EU member that spends the least for social benefits.
Romanian embassy in Chisinau (Republic of Moldova) has hardly any role, with the visa "dealers" working at its gates, Romania Libera reads. Hundreds of Moldavians wait nearby the Romanian embassy to receive the right to go in Romania. The newspaper informs that the "visa" dealers are supported by the Romanian staff. Romania has no ambassador in Chisinau. The last one was expulsed by Voronin's regime, after accusing the Romanian authorities of getting involved in April's social unrest.
The institution sees an image crisis: consul Ioan Nuica has been filmed with a hidden camera while he was engaged in sexual intercourse with one of his subalterns of Moldavian origin. The film ended up on the internet. Romanian minister of Foreign Affairs ruled out that no Moldavian citizen could be employed in the Romanian diplomatic mission in Chisinau, with the Moldavian staff soon to be replaced with Romanians, for fear that the embassy in Chisinau could be the target for further scandals.
Adevarul reads the EU supports employing people from the rural areas in Romania. 125 million euros are available for the schemes, with 4.75 million euros allocated by Brussels to see more inactive people in the country side being employed in non-agricultural sectors. The non-refundable support can be used by private and public companies, job centres, state agencies, research institutions, unions and NGOs.
The companies aiming to get the money must be registered in Romania. They have to inform on educational opportunities, professional qualification, non-agricultural employment and should run entrepreneurship and anti-illegal labour campaigns. Any programme needs to involve at least 500,000 euros and has to run for a minimum of three years.
