Working in Romania
The latest from the Romanian labour market.
Elena Enache, 05.03.2026, 14:04
The European Union entry-exit system, which requires the registration of biometric and travel data of citizens from non-EU countries entering the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days, has come into force at all Romanian border crossing points, starting from Monday. The electronic system records the date and place of entry and exit for third-country nationals, including citizens of the Republic of Moldova. Third-country nationals holding a long-stay permit or visa issued by an EU member state will not be subject to the system.
Upon first entry, after the system is operational, biometric data, facial image and four fingerprints will be collected to create an individual file. Children under 12 years of age are exempt from fingerprinting, as well as persons for whom this is physically impossible. On subsequent trips, the verification will be carried out automatically, based on the data already registered. The data collected in the system will be stored for a period of 3 years or 5 years in case of refusal of entry or exceeding the legal duration of stay. In order to avoid delays, the Border Police recommends that persons who benefit from exceptions to registration in the system present the supporting documents attesting to this status from the beginning.
Romania should accelerate the professional integration of Ukrainian refugees on the country’s territory, including by recognizing diplomas within a maximum period of 90 days, said the president of the National Confederation for Women’s Entrepreneurship, Cristina Chiriac, at a debate on the new rules for hiring foreign workers. According to her, there are over 180,000 Ukrainian refugees in the country who, instead of being integrated as an active, well-qualified workforce on the Romanian labor market, are joining the ranks of those who benefit from certain social support from the state. Chiriac believes that integrating refugees into the workforce could help reduce pressure on the public budget and cover staff shortages in key sectors of the economy.
The Labor Inspectorate imposed fines of over 4.6 million lei (over 900,000 euros) following inspections carried out last week. This is not a figure thrown around in a press release, it is a signal that the law is being applied, the relevant minister, Florin Manole, said in a post on the Internet. He stated that undeclared work, violation of employees’ rights and ignoring the rules do not remain without consequences. Approximately 2,400 inspections were carried out between February 16 and 20, resulting in 1,170 sanctions. 100 people who were performing undeclared work were identified. At the same time, violations of the provisions regarding working and rest time or failure to comply with the measures ordered during previous inspections were found, the Ministry of Labor informs.
The Municipal Employment Agency in Bucharest is implementing the “Formactiv – training and active work” project until 2029. Through this program, employers in Bucharest can train qualified personnel, and unemployed people over 30 years of age can gain experience. Employers who choose to hire unemployed people registered with the Public Employment Service will receive a monthly subsidy of 2,250 lei (about 440 euros)/ apprentice, for the entire period of the apprenticeship contract. The duration of the contract is established depending on the level of qualification for which the apprentice is to be trained. The agency specifies that the employer provides the salary, the conditions for professional training and the support needed for qualification. In turn, the unemployed have access to paid and officially recognized on-the-job training programs, counseling and mediation for choosing the right field, respectively the chance to acquire a qualification and integrate into the labor market. AMOFM Bucharest specifies that the recruitment of the target group will be carried out continuously, throughout the project. (EE)
