Hiring non-EU nationals in Romania entails many extra costs for employers, but that doesn't stop companies from wanting them: almost 141,000 foreign workers are already employed in key sectors of the economy.
The main reason why companies choose to hire foreign workers, despite the fact that this involves higher costs than hiring Romanians, is the desire for long-term stability. Foreign workers come to Romania with the clear purpose of working, being in a vulnerable position to rigorously respect contractual conditions, which makes them, in practice, more stable and predictable than part of the domestic workforce." said Yosef Gavriel Gavriel Peisakh - General Manager Work from Asia - for "The Truth".
Bringing in alone costs up to €2,000 per person
Asked what additional costs an employer who wants to hire foreign workers has to bear, he said they are mainly those associated with processing legal documents, providing international transportation, accommodation, food and integrating them into the company or household.
"In the case of unskilled, semi-skilled or skilled staff, the total cost of bringing a non-EU worker to Romania varies, depending on several factors, between €400 and €2,000 per person. These factors include the category of employment, the number of persons requested at the same time, the country of origin, the complexity of the recruitment process, the complexity of obtaining documents both in Romania and in the country of origin, the actual duration of the placement, the level of contractual guarantees offered by the employer and the integration package contracted from the recruitment agency"Peisakh added.
Salaries up to €1,500
As for salaries, the expert on recruiting non-EU workers said they vary depending on the field and the qualification.
"For non-household workers from countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India or various African countries, net wages generally start at €600 for unskilled workers, range from €700 to €850 for semi-skilled workers and can reach between €900 and €1,500 for skilled workers, depending on the field of activity and the requirements of the job. Domestic workers such as nannies, housekeepers, caretakers, personal drivers, gardeners or maintenance workers are mainly recruited from the Philippines and Indonesia, to a lesser extent from Nepal and Sri Lanka, and the cost of bringing them to Romania varies between €1,800 and €4,200 per person.
Salaries for this category start at 600 euros net and can reach up to 1.000 net or more, depending on the level of training, experience, knowledge of English, the volume and complexity of the tasks, the work schedule set and the package of services requested from the placement agency, which may include recruitment and pre-selection, obtaining the work permit, work visa favorable exit permit, welcome on arrival, integration of the worker in the household, medical and psychological screening, pre-placement training, residence permit, salary services, support during the contract, guaranteed replacements, insurance and other specific elements", explained the recruitment specialist.
Free room and board, plus free time off and rest leave
Companies that apply for and receive foreign workers also have a number of additional costs, including round-trip airfare.
"Employers recruiting non-EU domestic staff must provide, in addition to salary, free board and lodging, paid annual leave, at least one day off per week, and round-trip airfare at the beginning and end of the contract. There has also recently been a upward trend in wages offered to non-EU workers, especially in the context of Romania's accession to the Schengen area, in order to avoid their migration to other EU Member States, where the benefits may be more attractive"Yosef Gavriel Peisakh told "The Truth".
