The rate of absolute poverty sees 7.4% Romanians having to live with spending no more than $3 per day in 2009 due to the economic crisis. Elsewhere in the news, visa “dealers” work in front of the Romanian embassy in Chisinau, allegedly supported by the Romanian staff. Last but not least, an EU scheme supports employing people from the rural areas in Romania.
The rate of absolute poverty sees 7.4% Romanians having to live with spending no more than $3 per day in 2009 due to the economic crisis downturn, according to World Bank (WB) and UNICEF forecasts, Cotidianul informs. The number of Romanian citizens barely affording a living will increase this year, from 1.22 million - the figure for 2008 - to 1.6 million, the forecasts go on. The number of poor children will see an accentuated rise: from 250,000 to 350,000. The problem arises after a constant increase in the economy during the last years and a drop in the number of poor people, from 2.1 million in 2007 to 1.2 million in 2008.
Poverty will record a greater level in the rural areas, but it will see a rise in the cities, as a result of the unemployment brought by the current economic environment. 55% of the poor population will be made up by agriculture workers, people without a labour contract. The retired and housewives are also featured among the poor. The World Bank criticises Romania for its lack of social protection. Romania is the EU member that spends the least for social benefits.
Romanian embassy in Chisinau (Republic of Moldova) has hardly any role, with the visa "dealers" working at its gates, Romania Libera reads. Hundreds of Moldavians wait nearby the Romanian embassy to receive the right to go in Romania. The newspaper informs that the "visa" dealers are supported by the Romanian staff. Romania has no ambassador in Chisinau. The last one was expulsed by Voronin's r