2,000 employees of Oltenia Energy Complex (CEO) will be dismissed from 1 July 2016, announced the state energy company’s leadership.

“The organizational measures required in 2016, reducing the activity of coal mining and electricity production, will result in the contract termination of approximately 2,000 positions and hence termination of employment with effect from 1 July 2016 for a number 2,000 employees for reasons not related to the employee”, according to a document issued by the CEO.

Of the 2,000 employees affected, 1,070 fulfill the statutory retirement age by the end of 2019. The mining units and TESA staff are the most affected sectors. From Husnicioara mining unit will be laid off 483 employees, from Chișcani branch nearly 60 employees, from Bucharest subsidiary six employees, from Seciuri Sector roughly 54 employees, from Tehomir mine 10 employees, and from other categories and TESA staff will be laid off 321 employees.

The announcement is unacceptable for trade union leaders, which declare that protests will follows if there would be no further negotiations.

“Absolutely nothing good was announced to employees CEO. The proposal from the administrative side can not be accepted under any circumstances. It’s about 2,000 layoffs, technical unemployment, there is word about unpaid leave, unpaid days. What presents the current administration, the same one which in December announced only good things, means a restructuring program with which we disagree. I hope that people do not leave, except those that fulfil all conditions for retirement, about 420 employees”, said Gabriel Căldărușe, president of Oltenia Energy Mining Syndicate (SMEO), quoted by Mediafax.

Starting April, there will be interruptions of activity over a period of 21 days for hundreds of employees from Electrocentrale Rovinari, Turceni, Ișalnița, Craiova II and Chişcani branches.