Suspicions of bribery for voluntary layoffs at Romanian energy producer

Romania’s Energy Minister Victor Grigorescu has “imperatively’ asked the management of the energy group Complexul Energetic Oltenia to check whether employees have offered bribes to be on the list of people who are laid off and get financial compensation. The minister said that he hopes that the information presented in the local media is nothing but rumours. The restructuring plan should be applied transparently, Grigorescu said. “People should pay no bribes to be able to benefit from their rights,” he added. The Government has recently allocated RON 16.5 million (EUR 3.7 million) to cover the compensation wages of 3,090 employees of the state energy groups Complexul Energetic Oltenia, Complexul Energetic Hunedoara, and the Valea Jiului Mine Closure Society, who will be laid off. Complexul Energetic Oltenia will get EUR 2.8 million worth of compensation salaries for 2,000 employees. editor@romania-insider.com