Wages at Romsilva have been correlated with raises in the minimum gross wage guaranteed in the country, they have not doubled, and if we look at the Ministry of the Environment, there are civil servants who earn twice as much as the general director of the Romsilva National Forestry Administration (RNP), from public money, Chairman of the Silva Federation of Forestry Trade Unions Silviu Geana told AGERPRES on Wednesday.
"They make the law before the electoral campaign and pretend to do it for the people. After the electoral campaign, they do it against the people. In the Forestry Code there are articles that suit them and apply them and there are articles that should apply in favour of the people and do not apply them. He [the minister of the environment] said stupidly that wages at Romsilva doubled in the last five years. Far from it. Since 2021, wages at Romsilva have been correlated with the increase in the minimum gross salary, which means 60%. In 2021, the minimum wage was RON 2,300, and at the end of 2024 it was RON 3,700 lei. If someone is interested and wants to make a smart journalistic investigation, go to the page with the financial disclosures of those in the Ministry of the Environment, Watercourses and Forestry, and you will see that things are not like that at all. There are civil servants there who earn twice as much as the general manager of Romsilva. Those who work in the Ministry of the Environment, in the Forest Guards, in the Environmental Guard and in all the others are public servants paid from public money. At the National Forestry Authority Romsilva, wages are not paid from public money. The National Authority generates profit. In the last 3-4 years, it transferred over RON 700 million to the national budget, and 90% of Romsilva's profit is taken by the state. However, nothing is good anymore," said Geana.
According to the trade unionist, in 2022, 2023 and 2024, Romsilva was one of the first companies in this country "and suddenly we found out that nothing is good anymore".
"We smell something fishy. The general director of Romsilva is appointed by the National Liberal Party (PNL), the deputy general director is appointed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD). The Board of Directors is supported by PNL. Aren't they the people the minister should talk to first? We thought that, after his statements, with the disastrous management of Romsilva, he would take measures, but it seems that the term of office of the general director has just been extended for another five months. What do you understand from this? It's a rhetorical question. This state company should not enter the mechanism of political games, because I have the feeling that this is what they are doing. That is certain interests in the private area begin to feel them more and more strongly in the minister's public statements, which is not right."
The unionist added that a series of amendments to the forestry legislation were sent to the minister of the environment that were not taken into account.
"There are people in the minister's staff who take money monthly from commissions for the certification of business operators. Or, given that you are paid by private operators, can you be fair, do politics and defend the interest of the Romanian state? I would have liked the minister to be a loyal partner and to help us with the problems we have. Last year, I wrote to the minister eleven times and submitted a whole file of amendments to the Forestry Code, amendments to the legislation, so that we can make things work. He probably didn't even read them," said Geana.
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