Bucharest metro may stop from September 16 due to non-payment of salaries

Metrorex, which operates the Bucharest metro, may stop working from September 16 if employees are not paid until then, said Marian Artimon, president of the metro workers' union (USLM).

“The metro may stop after September 16 if Metrorex employees do not receive their salaries. There are only 3 thousand lei ($665 - ed.) left in Metrorex accounts, which is not enough to pay salaries,” Artimon said at a press conference.

According to individual employment contracts, if payment of wages is delayed by more than three days, company employees can go on vacation, take days off, or sue management. According to Artimon, the problem arose due to the fact that the company did not receive the required payments from the state budget on time. He insists Metrorex needs the subsidies because it maintains its own power supply and automation zone through fiber optics and telecommunications, as well as civil protection activities.

The union representative added that Metrorex was facing staffing shortages, causing many workers to work without vacation for long periods of time. However, local legislation obliges an employee to take leave if he has worked for more than 18 months. This has led to the fact that in September, out of 400-500 drivers, about 300 will be forced to go on vacation. Artimon stated that the company has about a thousand vacancies.

Metrorex already faced the threat of a shutdown in August due to debts to its electricity supplier. Then the situation was taken under control by Acting Minister of Transport Radu Miruta. He promised that the authorities would look into the situation and ensure the operation of the metro.