Almost one in four children in the European Union is at risk of poverty or social exclusion, and Romania continues to be among the member states most affected by this phenomenon, with hundreds of thousands of children growing up in households where parents work, but incomes remain insufficient for a decent living. according to the BNS National Trade Union Bloc.

In a press statement released on Friday, BNS welcomes the publication of the European Commission's Communication 'Breaking the cycle of child poverty: Strengthening the European Child Guarantee,' a document that confirms what trade unions have been advocating for years: the most effective social policy to protect children is the existence of stable, well-paid jobs compatible with family life.

'Currently, almost one in four children in the European Union is at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Romania continues to be among the member states most affected by this phenomenon, and hundreds of thousands of children grow up in households where parents work, but income remains insufficient for a decent living. The European Commission's document recognises that quality employment is the main tool for getting out of poverty. For BNS, this finding must be completed by an essential conclusion: not every job takes a family out of poverty, but only a decent job, protected by collective bargaining and properly remunerated,' the document reads.

BNS is calling on the Romanian government to treat future European reforms as an opportunity to modernise the labour market and to strengthen social dialogue.

The trade unionists believe that future national policies must follow: the development of education and early care services for children, so that parents can return to the labour market; combatting in-work poverty through wages that allow a decent standard of living; extending collective bargaining and strengthening collective bargaining agreements; the creation of flexible work programmes, negotiated together with the social partners; the involvement of trade union organisations indrawing up, implementing and monitoring of the National Plan for the European Child Guarantee.

'BNS appreciates the intention of the European Commission to consult the social partners in the elaboration of future policies on the activation of people excluded from the labour market. At the same time, we believe that this consultation should be extended so that trade unions and employers' organisations actively participate in defining standards on salaries, working conditions and reconciling professional and family life.'

According to BNS, the fight against child poverty cannot be reduced to social assistance policies. It involves investment in education, public services, healthcare and housing, but also a labour market that provides parents with economic security.

At the same time, Romania must capitalise on the financial opportunities offered by the future Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union. European funds to combat child poverty must be directed towards sustainable investments in social and educational infrastructure, not towards temporary measures with no long-term effects.

'When parents work but fail to provide their children with a decent living, we are not just talking about a social problem, but about a failure of public policies. No generation can build its future on insufficient wages and lack of access to education, care and social support services. Investing in children is, in reality, an investment in the future of Romania, and social dialogue must become one of the tools through which we build policies that offer real opportunities to every child,' BNS Youth Chairman Kevin Kirmizigul is quoted as saying in the BNS press statement. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Oana Tilica; EN- writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)