Bechtel announced its plans to dismiss 700 employees because the Romanian State failed to pay its debt for Autostrada Transilvania works. “The lack of prospects for 2010 funding and the outstanding payments for the 2009 works will unavoidably lead to a reduced program of works in 2010, compelling us to resize the necessary workforce of the Project", reads a press Bechtel press release.
According to the company, the work volume between December 2009 and April 2010 was insufficient, and consequently employees were only paid 75% of their base salaries.
"Thus, at this point in the process, a decision to retain app.1,200 employees and dismiss 700 has been taken. The criteria we have used to establish the dismissal priority order in case of reduction of positions are those provided by relevant Romanian legal norms", Bechtel adds.
Employees affected by the collective dismissal procedure will be compensated with an amount equivalent to two monthly base salaries.
General manager Michael Swinford declares that Bechtel will proceed to talks with State representatives in order to find adequate solutions.
"We are committed to working with the Ministry of Transport and CNADNR, to find solutions to return to a full level of work. It is our intention to solve all the issues and re-hire all our employees that are already trained and experienced with the Project’s working culture”, Michael Swinford added.

The State has no money left for Bechtel
The American company announced in early February that it planned to reduce Autostrada Transilvania activities and had been contemplating the collective dismissal procedure, because it had not received the money owed by CNADNR. Meanwhile, CNADNR kept promising that the amount owed, about 214 million Euro, would be paid in installments until April. CNADNR general manager Dorina Tiron declared for HotNews.ro that this year’s budget is only enough to cover last year’s debts.
Bechtel is willing to continue Autostrada Transilvania works as long as the required financing is in place –Bechtel’s external affairs manager Bogdan Sgarcitu told HotNews.ro this February. The company rep explained that the main issue was the state budget for 2010, which does not cover for the amounts required to continue the works. Some 100 million Euro is required for the remaining 10 km on section 2B, between Turda and Campia Turzii, and about 200 million for Section 3C, between Suplacu de Barcau and Bors. While the works on Section 2B will almost certainly be completed, those on Section 3C remain a mystery.

Claudia Pirvoiu