The news in Romanian
În România, sindicatul muncitorilor a protestat la Ministerul Economiei. Ei vor să salveze șantierul naval Mangalia de la faliment . Sindicatul cere ajutor de la guvern și companiile asociate pentru a păstra locurile de muncă ale angajaților. După discuţii, guvernul analizează opțiuni pentru a prelua acțiunile și pentru a stabiliza situația financiară.
Translation
In Romania, the workers' union protested at the Ministry of Economy. They want to save the Mangalia shipyard from bankruptcy. The union is asking for help from the government and associated companies to preserve the employees' jobs. Following discussions, the government is considering options to take over the shares and stabilise the financial situation.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: Who is protesting to save the Mangalia shipyard?
The workers' union is protesting to save the Mangalia shipyard.
Question 2: What is the purpose of the protests at the Ministry of Economy?
The purpose of the protests is to get help from the government and associated companies to save jobs and prevent the shipyard from going bankrupt.
Exercise: Vocabulary
Read the full story
▌08/02/2025
A protest took place in front of the Ministry of Economy in Romania, with the Sindicatul Liber Navalistul demanding immediate action to save the Mangalia Shipyard from impending financial collapse. The trade union has reached out to both the Dutch Embassy in Romania and the leadership of DAMEN, a major stakeholder, calling for urgent intervention to rescue the shipyard from insolvency.
The Mangalia Shipyard has been in financial distress for over eight months, leading to significant operational suspensions. According to the union, workers have been furloughed during this period, jeopardising their livelihoods, and collective redundancies have been deemed "unacceptable." To revitalise the shipyard's activities, they have requested substantial government intervention in the form of firm orders and financial support.
Functioning as the largest employer in the area, Damen Shipyards Mangalia plays a critical role in the local community's economy. The looming risk of bankruptcy poses severe threats not only to the employees and their families but also to the entire community. Union representatives have described the scenario as a "shareholder conflict" that has resulted in an economic deadlock with ongoing litigation potentially dragging on for years.
Protests Urge Solutions for Mangalia Shipyard Crisis (Illustration)
The union has criticised DAMEN's management, accusing them of worsening the shipyard's condition by allegedly prioritising the transfer of profits abroad and failing to maintain adequate workplace safety measures. These managerial decisions are said to have undermined the workers' considerable efforts and sacrifices. In response, the union has urged the Romanian Minister of Economy, Bogdan Ivan, to take decisive measures such as halting the collective redundancies and developing a strategic plan for the shipyard's future.
Following the protests, a meeting took place between the union leaders and the minister. Subsequently, it was announced that DAMEN would terminate its contract holding 49% of the shares, making way for other potential investors. Currently, six investors have shown interest, while the Romanian government has retained the option to acquire DAMEN's shares.
In response to the discussions, Minister Ivan has called the judicial administrator to the Ministry of Economy to seek a postponement of the impending layoffs, which threaten around 200 jobs. This move is part of broader efforts aimed at stabilising the shipyard’s financial situation and securing its future sustainability.
Info: 'Romanian Learner News' is a service from 'Let's Learn Romanian', a language school providing comprehensive courses for those seeking to learn Romanian. We offer various types of online Romanian courses designed to cater for different learning needs and preferences.
