Petrom in partnership with the foundation Centre for Management Development Cluj attracted European funds for a project to fight unemployment in Romania
October 14, 2010
- European funds amounting to EUR 5 mn for regional Centres for Information and Career Counselling
- Centres for career counselling – Petrom model, successfully used during 2006-2010
Petrom, the largest oil and gas producer in South-eastern Europe, and the foundation Centre for Management Development Cluj (CDM) will jointly develop a project that targets at fighting unemployment and inactivity, project funded 98% with European funds. To this end, Petrom and CDM attracted around EUR 5 mn, which will be used for financing the activity of an existing network of 15 centres. The model for Outplacement Centres was successfully implemented by Petrom during 2006-2010; the network, the respective personnel as well as the gained experience will constitute the grounds of the project developed in partnership with CDM.
Mariana Gheorghe, Petrom CEO: "I am glad that the experience accumulated by Petrom’s Outplacement Centres will be used on a large scale. It is a unique project in Romania, through its size and innovative measures proposed for facilitating the integration of unemployed and inactive persons on the labour market. I consider that the financing of the project was a success and I hope in this way we will encourage similar initiatives. Romania must benefit from the advantages of being a member of the European Union and increase the absorption rate of EU funds, in order to return to economic growth."
The project will develop an already existing network of 15 regional Centres for Information and Career Counselling that will facilitate career counselling, integration and reintegration on the labour market for 25,000 persons in the next three years.
The activity of the centres will focus on increasing the employment opportunities, by organizing job fairs, information about new investment projects, promoting a positive attitude about employment, etc. The project also aims to create a number of at least 300 income generation activities out of 2000 persons assisted, by offering consultancy services and assistance (juridical services, assistance in drafting a business or marketing plan).
In addition, the project aims to contribute to the improvement of relations between partners on the labour market by promoting the best practices generated by the project. Therefore, the Centres will develop partnerships between unions, employers, training suppliers and civil society representatives, partnerships aimed at supporting and informing persons looking for employment.
Florin Petean, CDM CEO: "The project is already an example for the partnership between the business community and the non-governmental sector. Through the involvement of important actors in the business community as well as administrative bodies, we prove that success and development are based on collaboration and involvement."
About Petrom Outplacement Centres (2006-2010)
For the social protection of the laid off employees following the reorganization process of the company, besides the financial benefits offered by the Social Plan agreed with the unions, Petrom took the decision to support the laid off employees in view of their reintegration in the labour market. Therefore, in 2006, 15 Outplacement Centres were established with the objective to offer, depending on personal options, services for reintegration on the labour market or counselling needed for opening a business.
The project unfolded with success during 2006-2010: over 11,000 of the laid off employees opted for the Centres’ counselling services and for around 84% of the applicants, solutions for repositioning on the labour market were identified.
Petrom Group
Petrom Group is the largest oil and gas group in South-eastern Europe, with activities in the business segments of Exploration and Production, Refining and Marketing as well as Gas and Power. The Group consolidated its position on the oil market in South-eastern Europe following a far-reaching modernization and efficiency increase process whereas investments accounted for more than EUR 5 bn during the last five years.
In Romania and Kazakhstan, the Group exploits proved oil and gas reserves of approximately 854 mn boe (in Romania 823 boe) and has a maximum annual refining capacity of 8 mn tons.
On the distribution market of oil products, Petrom Group is present through a network of approximately 800 filling stations, operated under two brands, Petrom and OMV. The activity in Romania is performed through OMV Petrom Marketing, 100% owned by Petrom. OMV Petrom Marketing operates 546 filling stations, out of which 389 are Petrom and 157 OMV. The Group also owns an international network of approximately 250 filling stations, located in Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria and Serbia.
For the Group’s sustainable development, its strategy includes business diversification by approaching the power market. In this context, Petrom is building a 860 MW gas fired power plant at Brazi and acquired the project for the construction of a 45 MW wind park.
In 2009 the Group’s turnover was EUR 3,795 mn, EBITDA was EUR 969 mn. OMV, the leading energy group in Central and South-eastern Europe holds a 51.01% share in Petrom. OMV is active in 12 Central European countries in its Refining and Marketing business segment and in 17 countries on four continents in Exploration and Production. Ministry of Economy holds 20.64% of Petrom shares, Property Fund SA holds 20.11%, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 2.03% and 6.21% is free float on Bucharest Stock Exchange.