MENTAL ISSUES IN JOB CENTERS BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEMS RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT IN ROMANIA ROMA, 13 February 2014

Who takes care of the unemployed? In Romania, the National Agency for Employment (ANOFM) apply policies and strategies in the field of employment and training of people seeking a job. These policies are elaborated by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social and Elderly Protection. ANOFM agency has in subordination the following institutions: -the Agency of Bucharest Municipality, -41 county agencies (in which operates 70 local agencies and 141 working points) -8 county centers for professional training of unemployed, -8 regional training centers for adults, -the National Centre for Professional Training of own staff located in Rasnov (Brasov county) The Web site of ANOFM is :

ABOUT ANOFM ANOFM Agency is a provider of services to the people whitch are looking for a job and offers various services, such as: -vocational counseling, -vocational training, -labour mediation, -job subsidies for companies that hire unemployed people -consultancy for starting a business -updated periodically the jobs available in each county -organizes job fairs for various trades -each month elaborates and make public the statistics regarding unemployment situation in each county -manages the unemployment insurance budget -implement programs financed from the European Social Fund -organizes information campaigns for graduates and for people looking for a job

Dolj County Employment Agency Services for Individuals: Information and professional counseling for unemployed people and other people in order to find a job; Balanced approach between demand and offer on the labor market; Qualification and retraining of unemployed people who fit to certain requirements; Advice and assistance for starting independent activities or starting a business; Stimulation of the labor force mobility Co-financing of training programs to AJOFM staff; The establishment and payment, according to the law, for social protection rights of the unemployed and other socio-professional categories; EURES services

Dolj County Employment Agency Services for legal entities: Subsidies with costs of the labor force for the local community development - not more than 12 months for each person; Subsidies with costs of the labor force for the graduates - 12 months resp. 18 months for disabled persons; Subsidies with costs of the labor force for employing of unemployed people over 45 years or unemployed people which are single breadwinners; Subsidies of companies that hire students during holidays.

Statistics regarding to registered unemployment on 30 December 2014 The total number of unemployed at the end of December 2013 was people increased by people compared with the previous month. At the end of December 2013 the unemployment rate in Romania was 5.65%, with 0,05 percentage points higher than November 2013 and 0.06 percentage points higer than December From the total registered unemployed: unemployed persons receive unemployment indemnity wich not benefiting of unemployment indemnity Unemployment rate registered by gender in december 2013: the male unemployment rate increased from 6,01% to 6,18% and the female unemployment rate decreased from 5,14% to 5,06%.

Evolution of the number of registered unemployed people in the period

Evolution of female and male unemployment rate in 2012 and 2013, compared to the national rate

Distribution of unemployed people by age, in December 2013 <25 years people between 25 and 30 years people between 30 and 40 years – people between 40 and people 50 to 55 years – people people over 55

The highest levels of the unemployment rate are in the following counties: Teleorman – 10.66% Vaslui – 10.53% Alba – 10,41% Mehedinti – 10,25% Dolj – 9,60%

The structure of unemployment by level of education The unemployed without education and those with primary education, secondary and vocational represents the highest share of people who are looking for a job. Their percentage is 69,49 %. The unemployed with highschool and post-highschool education level represents 23.39%. The unemployed with higher education represents 7.13%

In conclusion: In Romania the evidence of the unemployed is carried out by the National Agency for Employment which has branches in each of the 41 counties and also in Bucharest. Free services for the unemployed are limited to: - Counseling in order to find a job - Starting a business - Professional reconversion courses - Career Counseling In Romania there are many foundations and associations that offer free counseling for unemployed and people with mental issues. This advice is offered in several directions: -Consulting/guidance in order to find a job -Expert advice for people who are employed but are in danger of losing their job because of mental issues - “Group therapy” offered to big companies who wish to retain the employees who do performance and who realize that the stress at work can cause mental health problems

In conclusion: From studies carried out by our company on the subject of the project, it appears that within the Agency for employment there are no specialists in coaching on career development for the unemployed. Also, there are no psychologists to accompany the unemployed with mental health problems. In fact, the health problems of the the unemployed are overlooked by the authorities, these being only reported by the media. The psychological consultancy of the unemployed peoples must be paid and can only take place at their request, in private psychological cabinets. Compared to other EU countries, the evidence of Romania’s psychological consulting is not subsidized by the government, being done professionally only in private practices.