Author
Asylum seekers have access to the labour market following 3 months from the lodging of the application, if no decision has been taken by IGI-DAI due to no fault of the applicant, or during the appeal stage.[1] This means that if a decision was made in the administrative phase of the procedure, the asylum seeker is allowed access to labour market even sooner than 3 months. Persons who, at the time of filing an application for asylum, have a right of residence on the territory of Romania and are working legally, may continue to work.[2]
Access to the labour market is granted under the same conditions set out in law for Romanian citizens.[3] Accordingly, there is no labour market test, sectoral limitation or other restriction laid down in the law.
The Asylum Law prescribes that asylum seekers may benefit, upon request, from mediation services, professional information and counselling services provided to persons seeking employment by the County Employment Agencies (AJOFM).[4]
In order to be registered as a job seeker by the AJOFM and to benefit from the aforementioned services, asylum seekers must present the documents requested by law, except for the civil status documents issued by the country of origin, together with their temporary identity document issued by IGI-DAI and a certificate which confirms their right to work. The same conditions apply for asylum seekers’ participation in a vocational training program or the evaluation of professional competences acquired through non-formal means.
Diplomas or certificates of education or graduation, as well as certificates of professional competence, qualification or other relevant documents, are accepted only if they are recognised on the territory of Romania according to the applicable legal provisions.
According to the law, asylum seekers who have access to the labour market have the right to benefit from measures promoting employment, as well as protection within the unemployment insurance system, under the conditions provided by the law for the Romanian citizens.[5] Moreover, the provisions of the Asylum Law on access to employment for asylum seekers also refer to the possibility to participate in vocational training programs.[6]
According to CNRR, in 2023 and 2024, asylum seekers in Romania were granted the right to work after three months from the date of submitting their asylum application, provided no decision had been issued in the administrative phase.[7] This right could also be obtained earlier if the applicant entered the judicial phase of the asylum procedure. However, CNRR noted inconsistencies in the interpretation of this legal provision at the regional level, with variations observed in different reception centres, such as in Giurgiu.[8]
In previous years, the number of asylum seekers securing formal employment remained relatively low. Data from IGI-DAI indicate the following:[9]
- 2019: 26 asylum seekers were formally employed.
- 2021: 18 asylum seekers held employment contracts.
- 2020: 970 asylum seekers had the right to work, but only 276 were reported to be employed.
- 2023: The National Employment Agency did not maintain records on the number of asylum seekers working under formal employment contracts.
- 2024: 64 asylum seekers with the right to work were employed under contract.
Despite having the right to work, asylum seekers continue to face significant barriers to employment. According to CNRR, the most frequently reported challenges include:[10]
- Language barrier – primary obstacle is the lack of proficiency in Romanian. Those who speak English have an easier time finding employment.
- Lack of recognition of qualifications – many asylum seekers face difficulties due to missing or unrecognized diplomas, certificates, and work experience. This forces them to accept unskilled labour positions.
- Administrative and legal barriers – the temporary nature of their identity documents and the uncertainty regarding the duration of the asylum procedure deter employers from hiring asylum seekers.
- Limited access to employment services – although asylum seekers are theoretically eligible to receive assistance from the National Employment Agency, they rarely use these services due to language barriers and insufficient guidance.
- Risk of exploitation: Given these challenges, many asylum seekers are vulnerable to informal or illegal work arrangements, exposing them to labour exploitation.
From documented cases, asylum seekers who do find work are often employed in construction, car service and car wash facilities, fast food and delivery services.[11]
According to CNRR, in the past years, representatives from the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (ANITP) have visited the Regional Centre for Asylum Seekers in Galați to provide asylum seekers with key information on labour legislation and protection against exploitation. In 2024, ANITP expanded its outreach by distributing informational leaflets in Romanian, English, Arabic, and Nepali on various employment-related topics.[12]
CNRR stated that there are currently no known projects specifically focused on the labour market integration of asylum seekers or their vocational training and qualification. [13]
[1] Article 17(1)(o) Asylum Act.
[2] ibid.
[3] ibid.
[4] Article 6^1(1) -(5) Asylum Decree.
[5] Article 17(1) (o^1) Asylum Act.
[6] Article 6^1(4) Asylum Decree.
[7] CNRR, Input by civil society organisations to the Asylum Report 2024, 2023, available here. Information provided by CNRR in February 2025.
[8] Information provided by CNRR in February 2025.
[9] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 20 February 2020, 16 February, 2021, 10 March 2022, National Employment Agency, 10 January 2024.
[10] Information provided in February 2025 and confirmed also by JRS Romania representatives in Galati. CNRR, Input by civil society organisations to the Asylum Report 2024, 2023, available here.
[11] CNRR, Input by civil society organisations to the Asylum Report 2024, 2023, available here.
[12] Information provided in February 2025.
[13] ibid.