A SUDDENLY-DISCOVERED DEARTH OF “PURE-BLOODED RUMANIANS” IS EMBARRASSING THE MINISTRY OF LABOR IN ITS EFFORTS TO GET THEM EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE OVER OTHER RUMANIAN CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS, IT WAS REVEALED TODAY IN THE ARGUS, LEADING ECONOMIC DAILY.
THE NEWSPAPER REPORTS THAT NEW BUSINESS HOUSES IN BUCHAREST RECENTLY REQUESTED THE MINISTRY TO SUPPLY THEM WITH 400 EMPLOYES OF SO-CALLED RUMANIAN ETHNIC ORIGIN, IN COMPLIANCE WITH AN “URGENT RECOMMENDATION” THAT SUCH PERSONS BE GIVEN PREFERENCE TO THE EXTENT OF 50 TO 75 PER CENT OF ALL AVAILABLE JOBS.
AFTER A TWO-MONTH SEARCH, THE REPORT STATES, THE MINISTRY COULD PRODUCE ONLY 40 PERSONS WHO COULD MEET THE ETHNIC REQUIREMENTS. OF THIS NUMBER, ONLY 20 QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITIONS OPEN.
THE NEWSPAPER ADDS THAT DESPITE WILLINGNESS OF BANKS AND COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES TO PAY EXCESSIVELY HIGH SALARIES TO “PURE-BLOODED” PERSONS, CANDIDATES HAVING SUCH QUALIFICATIONS ARE NOT APPLYING FOR VACANT JOBS.
ON SEPT. 17, COMMERCE MINISTER VALERIUS POP CIRCULARIZED LEADING INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL FIRMS ORDERING THEM WITHIN THREE MONTHS TO HIRE PERSONS OF “RUMANIAN ETHNIC ORIGIN” FOR NO LESS THAN 75 PER CENT OF UNSKILLED POSITIONS AND 50 PER CENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL AND OTHER SKILLED POSTS. THE CIRCULAR WARNED OF HEAVY FINES AND WITHDRAWAL OF TRADE LICENSES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY.
ON OCT. II, HOWEVER, M. POP ISSUED A NEW CIRCULAR IN WHICH HE SAID THE PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS WERE NOT TO BE CONSIDERED COMPULSORY BUT AS AN “URGENT RECOMMENDATION.”
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