Romania's Labor Importers Association Warns Against Rising Anti-Immigrant Sentiment

Strategic Insights -

Romania's severe workforce shortages have led to the increased use of non-EU labor, with over 140,000 foreign nationals legally employed in the country as of the end of 2024. This trend has sparked a growing backlash from some Romanians, with Asian workers facing hostile messages on social media. The Labor Importers Employers' Association (PIFM) has denounced these attitudes, stating that hiring non-EU labor is a "last resort" for companies and emphasizing the dignity and rights of these workers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Labor Importers Employers' Association (PIFM) has cautioned against rising anti-immigrant sentiment in Romania, stressing the importance of protecting the dignity and rights of foreign workers.
  • Romanian companies must first declare vacancies with the National Employment Agency (ANOFM) before recruiting abroad, a process that can take up to a year.
  • Over 140,000 non-EU nationals were legally employed in Romania as of the end of 2024, mainly from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and India.
  • More than 60% of these non-EU employees work in construction, hospitality, and transport sectors, which have been heavily hit by labor shortages.
  • The General Inspectorate for Immigration reported the majority of non-EU employees earn their living with dignity, pay taxes, and work honestly.
  • The PIFM statement criticized stigmatization based on ethnicity or nationality origin, citing European and international values that Romania has committed to upholding.
  • Romanian companies rely heavily on non-EU labor due to severe workforce shortages, which the PIFM framed as a "last resort" for addressing the issue.

Statistics:

  • 140,000 non-EU nationals were legally employed in Romania at the end of 2024.
  • 60% of non-EU employees work in construction, hospitality, and transport sectors.
  • A year is the minimum time required for companies to recruit non-EU labor after declaring vacancies with ANOFM.
  • Romania has committed to upholding European and international values, including the protection of migrant workers' rights.
  • Non-EU employees work honestly, pay taxes, and earn their living with dignity, according to the General Inspectorate for Immigration.

Sources:

  • Xinhua via COMTEX, "Romania's Labor Importers Employers' Association denounces anti-immigrant sentiment", published online on August 20, 2025.