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The General Union of Industrialists of Romania (UGIR‐1903) –
past present and future
Brief history
On January 27 1903 1903 1903 the General Union of of Industrialists of of Romania UGIR‐1903 was created UGIR1903 has been the the most important employers’ confederation in in in Romania and the the the first such organization organization in in in Continental Europe an an an an an an an organization organization dedicated to the the development and modernization of of of Romania It is a a a a a a a a a a a a continuation
of of of the the over 100‐years’ long tradition of of of the the employers’ movement in Romania Throughout its activity UGIR1903 has promoted numerous policies and and measures to encourage the the Romanian industry and and services Since the the beginning of its activity many international contacts have been established in in in particular through the the International Labor Organization Created in in in 1919 IOM –
the the the first international organization that brought together employers employers and and unions benefited from the the the the active presence of of the the the the UGIR‐1903 employers employers and and the the the the interventions of of of the the the the the Romanian industrialists were appreciated both in in in terms of of the the the topics and the the the solutions proposed at at at all conferences that it organized in in in Geneva The leadership of of UGIR‐1903 involved the most important industrialists of of of Romania former and and future
ministers of of of industry economy and and finance Unfortunately the the impetus of of the the Romanian industrialists was broken in in 1948 In 1948 its activity was interrupted until 1993 when in in the new social economic and political conditions
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“I have the the the belief that the the the true establishment of a a a a a country within the the the power relations governing this world is is based on on industry The peoples that cannot have have an an an industrial destiny destiny can can have have no no destiny”
excerpt from the the speech of of academician Victor Slăvescu President of of of of UGIR-1903 delivered in in 1938 on on on the the the the occasion of of of the the the inauguration of of of the the the Romanian Industry House (UGIR Palace 1903) businessmen showed a a a a a a real interest for the the continuation
of of the the activity UGIR1903 UGIR1903 Based on on on on on on Law no 356 of of 2001 and on on on on on on its organizational regulation UGIR1903 UGIR1903 becomes the the most important employers’ confederation in Romania The new regulations allow for the the possibility of of establishing employers’ organizations –
independent of of public authorities political parties and unions According to UGIR‐1903 employers’ organizations should should be be declared public utility institutions and and should should not be be subject to administrative requirements and and conditions
that hinder their activity The new Law on on on on the the organization and functioning of employers’ associations no 62/2011 provides for for new conditions
for for the registration and and operation of of employers’ associations however some of of the the provisions are restrictive and and unclear which prevents reaching the the representation at at at at at national national level of of employers’ confederations that do not encompass “at least 7% of of employees in the national national economy” Few European countries have such regulations and limitations of administrative rights UGIR 1903 is an an an important partner in in in the the social dialogue and in in in in in the the the industrial relations system
in in in in Romania it it participates in in in in the the regulation of of economic economic activities and and and of of labor and and and social relations in in in in supporting the the the economic economic and and and and industrial development of of the the the the country it takes part in in in in in the the the the negotiation and and signing of of the the the collective labor contract at at at at national level including in in in in its structure 8 branch confederations and 26 employers’ associations some of which enjoy international affiliation and recognition