2023-09-01 19:05:00
Hundreds of employees of the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) threaten to sue the authority led by Nicu Marcu, if they do not receive their “performance bonus for the past year” and later “the bonus for ASF Day” by September 15. sources who wished to remain anonymous told HotNews.ro on Friday. After two major RCA bankruptcies, Marcu no longer has political support for another mandate, so those close to him began to leave ASF.
ASF leadership, explanations in ParliamentPhoto: Inquam Photos / George Calin
The crisis triggered in ASF takes place in the context in which the mandate of the 9 members of the management of the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) expires on November 15, but also in the context of the budgetary austerity measures prepared by Ciolacu, which will also target the authorities under the tutelage of the Parliament that are self-financed from industry revenues and indirectly also from citizens’ money, such as ASF.
What premiums did ASF employees not collect this year?
The information that hundreds of employees are threatening to go on strike and that they will sue the ASF management in order to receive their first two wages stipulated in the Collective Labor Agreement was first given by Jurnalul.ro.
- “Thus, in March the employees should have received the performance bonus for the past year. Depending on the evaluation of each employee, the premiums vary between 50%-75%-100% of the salary.
- This year, the performance premium was no longer paid, following the scandal that broke out after the bankruptcy of the largest RCA insurer, Euroins Romania.
- Every year, at the beginning of June, the employees celebrate ASF Day, an event that comes with a substantial premium, which is equal to a salary. This premium was not paid either, and the employees threatened to strike.”, Jurnalul.ro wrote.
ASF management approved the payment of premiums in October and November
Faced with threats of a strike, the ASF president radically changed his position, writes Jurnalul.ro, and on August 23, the ASF Council approved the payment of the premiums requested by the employees.
According to an e-mail sent on August 24 to the president of the ASF union, Mihaela Constantinescu, the payment of these premiums will be made together with the payment of salary rights related to the months of October and November, i.e. in the months of November and December, according to the data obtained exclusively by the daily.
Sources from the insurance market specified for Jurnalul that the postponement of the payment of the two premiums was caused by the scandal caused by the bankruptcy of Euroins and the voting in parliament of the new ASF leadership, which should be completed by November 15, 2023.
- “If he would pay the premiums before, the current president of ASF – as well as other heads who hope to get another mandate – would risk being taken to task in the specialized committees of the Parliament at the moment he will be heard, if he will be nominated from new PNL and PSD at the head of the institution. If they are appointed after the time when the performance bonus is paid, those who know that they have a chance to be re-appointed will forgo collecting it, most likely in order to do well in the auditions.”, writes the Journal.
The head of the ASF union for HotNews.ro: We do not agree. We will go to court
HotNews.ro verified all this information from several sources within the ASF, which confirmed to us that they are true, with the mention that the offer of the ASF management was rejected by the trade unionists.
- “The ASF union said that it is not giving up the action in court if the employees do not receive their performance bonus for the year 2022 by September 15, and the bonus for the ASF Day in October”, ASF sources told HotNews.ro on Friday.
Contacted by HotNews.rothe president of the ASF union, Mihaela Constantinescu, confirmed that the offer was rejected.
- “We do not agree and we will go to court. The union, which has about 400 members, has taken all due diligence to avoid court action. They are legal rights that are provided for in the Collective Labor Agreement.”, the head of the ASF trade union told HotNews.ro on Friday, without wanting to make any further comments.
Daniel Apostol announced his departure from ASF on Friday. Other people close to Marcu have already left
Also in the context of the replacement of the ASF leadership, several people brought by Nicu Marcu to ASF have already left the institution.
On Friday, ASF spokesperson Daniel Apostol announced his departure on ASF’s WhatsApp account:
- “Good morning! Starting today, September 1, for any subject related to ASF, please contact Silviu Udroiu and/or Lucian Pop. I thank you very much for the elegance of our collaboration over the last three years and for the interest shown in the ASF activity. I wish you continued success!”, wrote Daniel the Apostle.
Contacted by HotNews.ro to offer more explanations related to the reasons for leaving or the new job, Daniel Apostol did not want to comment.
Daniel Apostol is not the only one close to the ASF president who is leaving the institution.
- “Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu sent on PSD’s WhatsApp group that PSD no longer supports Marcu at the head of the ASF. Apostol is not the only man to leave ASF. Nicu Marcu’s cabinet director, reserve general George-Viorel Voinescu, former deputy director of the SRI, left yesterday.
- Paul Cristian Tuță also left, brought by Nicu Marcu to the position of secretary general of the ASF, whose brother is the PNL deputy George Tuță, who before becoming a parliamentarian was the chief of staff of the former head of the SRI Eduard Hellvig.”, sources from ASF also told HotNews.ro.
Prior to the publication of this article, HotNews.ro requested an official point of view from the ASF regarding this information and we will return with answers as soon as we receive them.
ASF management salaries increased last year
Heard in Parliament after the two major RCA bankruptcies, the members of the ASF management defended themselves claiming that they applied historic fines to Euroins in the amount of 16 million lei in 3 years, that data was hidden from them in the control process and that they made criminal complaints.
On the other hand, even in the decision to withdraw from operation, ASF emphasized that Euroins was collecting 8 million per day from RCA.
The ASF leadership was also called to the Government to give explanations, given that, in order to stabilize the RCA market, the Executive led by Nicolae Ciucă decided on Wednesday to cap RCA prices.
And it all stopped there.
Meanwhile, the management of the ASF has published its asset declarations for last year, and the revenues are considerably higher than in 2021, according to Economedia.ro.
- Nicu Marcu, the president of the ASF, received from this position a salary of 989,925 lei in 2022, an increase from 748,324 lei in 2021 and an increase from 391,563 in 2020. He also accumulated income of 28,533 lei from the Academy of Economic Studies. The financial assets from the current account of 117,852 lei are added to the salary from the ASF.
- Elena Doina Dascălu, first vice-president of ASF, declared revenues of 829,138 lei in 2022, an increase compared to 2021 (713,489 lei)
- Cristian Roșu, vice president in charge of insurance, declared a salary of 761,259 lei last year, an increase compared to 2021 (658,079 lei)
- Gabriel Grădinescu, vice president, declared a salary of 746,374 lei in 2022, up from 665,260 lei in 2021
- Stefan Daniel Armeanu, vice president, declared a salary of 760,486 lei in 2022, up from 656,775 lei in 2021
The non-executive members of the board of directors, respectively Jozsef Birtalan, Ioan Gheorghe Țara, Aura Gabriela Socol, Ovidiu Răzvan Wlassopol, received 422,700 lei, 419,174 lei and 422,958 lei, respectively.
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