Romania's Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan declared on Tuesday a strategic overhaul of the public sector, announcing a 10% reduction in the workforce. This decision is a significant move towards addressing Romania's budget deficit, which is one of the largest in Europe. The cuts will specifically affect around 13,000 municipal workers, with approximately 6,000 positions being eliminated at both central and local government levels. These layoffs come shortly after Bolojan, who took office in June of the previous year, initiated several unpopular measures aimed at enhancing the country's economic stability, including tax increases.

The implementation of these layoffs will take effect immediately following an emergency government decree. According to Development Minister Attila Cseke, the government aims to reduce the size of central administrative bodies significantly. He elaborated that while cuts will primarily target ministerial offices and personnel in central and local administrations, key sectors such as education, culture, defense, police, and hospitals will remain unaffected by these measures. This indicates a targeted approach in reducing employment while attempting to preserve essential services for the public.

Public sector unions have expressed their concerns, formally addressing both Bolojan and Cseke regarding the sweeping changes. The unions argue that such significant job losses could adversely impact not only the livelihoods of the affected employees but also the quality of public services in Romania. As these reforms unfold, they will likely face scrutiny from both the public and various stakeholders, reflecting the challenges a government confronts when attempting to balance budgetary constraints with the need for effective governance and service delivery.