Background information

At European level, the digital economy creates five jobs for every two lost "offline" jobs, estimating that half of the increase in productivity comes from investments in ICT. There are gaps between Romania and the EU, especially in terms of access to next generation networks and the general use of the Internet and digital skills - which is reflected in the low number of online transactions. Less than a third of the population aged 16-74 years in Romania has basic digital skills. Despite the increase in the percentage of ICT specialists, they represent a smaller proportion of the workforce compared to the EU as a whole (2.1%, compared to 3.7%). Only 8% of SMEs sell online, and only 9% of Romanian companies use social networks (compared to the EU average of 17%). Today, in the current pandemic context, the reorientation of businesses towards the online environment and the increase of digital literacy of employees can ensure the survival of enterprises, an increased competitiveness and maintaining jobs and employment. These needs are addressed through the two approved national programs.

Content of measure

By Government Decision no. 599/July 2020, the National Program “Digital skills for employees in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises sector” (Programul național “Competențe digitale pentru angajații din sectorul întreprinderilor mici și mijlocii”) was approved, funded under the Human Capital Operational Program 2014-2020.

Through this program, employees of SMEs operating in economic sectors with competitive potential will be able to receive funding for participation in training programs in digital skills domain. The Program value is RON 96,880 thousand (€20,000,000 - of which the EU contribution is €17,000,000 and the national contribution is €3,000,000).

In addition to this, through the “National program for the digitalisation of micro, small and medium enterprises” (Programul National de digitalizare a microintreprinderilor, a intreprinderilor mici si mijlocii), micro, small and medium enterprises in non-IT sectors, from the eight development regions of Romania, will be able to receive financing for the digitalisation of their activity, in order to increase competitiveness. The Program value is RON 726 million (€150 million), of which the EU contribution is 85% and the national contribution is 15% (GEO no. 677/August 2020).

Use of measure

No available data.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Employees in standard employment	SMEs One person or microenterprises	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies EU (Council, EC, EP)	European Funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Not known.

Views and reactions

Not available information on the issue.

Sources

• 31 July 2020: Government Decision no. 599 of July 31, 2020 on the approval of the National Digital Skills Program for SMEs employees, funded under the Operational Program Human Capital 2014-2020 (legislatie.just.ro)
• 14 August 2020: Government Decision no. 677 of 14 August 2020 on the approval of the National Program for the digitization of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, financed under the Competitiveness Operational Program 2014-2020 (legislatie.just.ro)