Miners and energy workers are protesting on Thursday in front of the Government for rights and working conditions

Miners and employees in the energy sector, members of the National Federation of Mine Energy unions, are organizing a protest meeting in front of the Romanian Government on Thursday, between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM, in response to the issues they are facing.

Among the reasons for the protest are the violation of individual labor contracts, through the non-granting of vacation vouchers and meal tickets, essential for employees working under difficult conditions. Additionally, the union members accuse the lack of social protection for 2,000 employees with fixed-term contracts from the Oltenia Energy Complex. The protesters are demanding the amendment of Emergency Ordinance no. 69/2019, which regulates social protection measures for laid-off individuals, as well as a return to the retirement conditions prior to September 1, 2024. They are calling for the formalization of the situation of the Lupeni and Lonea mines, which cannot be closed according to the established deadlines, and the elimination of the imbalance between grid energy and sporadic energy, which affects electricity prices. Furthermore, the union members emphasize the necessity of decommissioning lignite and coal-based energy capacities only after gas and nuclear groups have been established.