Topic 2 Inclusion, diversity, and rights in the Romanian labour market
Work life balance: Employees in Romania work an average of 41 hours weekly, which is slightly more than the European average hours (40.4).
Business hours in Romania differ from governmental to private organizations, with typical office hours in both public and private organizations being from Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. However, private organizations adopt an unequal distribution of business hours. Below are some examples of public and private organizations’ business hours:
- Public organizations/institutions business hours are equal all year round (depending on the field of activity). Working days are from Monday to Friday, starting between 8:00-9:00 and closing between 16:00-17:00.
- Private Sector: Each company decides its own business hours, but generally, there are 08:00 – 16:00 Monday to Friday. Shops and pharmacies are usually open everyday between 7:00-9:00 AM an close between 21:00-22:00, while non-stop/24hours shops and pharmacies can also be found.
- For full time employees, the normal working hours per day is 8 hours, and 40 hours per week, with the possibility of overtime under specific conditions defined by the company. On the other hand, over time is not possible or legal for part time employees (4 hours/day), including international students.
Romania has numerous national/public holidays across the year. Most of the companies and public organizations remain completely closed during these days. Below are holidays with an unfixed date:
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Good Friday |
22/Apr |
14/Apr |
3/May |
18/Apr |
|
Easter Sunday (Orthodox) |
24/Apr |
16/Apr |
5/May |
20/Apr |
|
Easter Monday (Orthodox) |
25/Apr |
17/Apr |
6/May |
21/Apr |
|
Sunday & Monday of Whitsuntide (Rusaliile) |
12-13/Jun |
4-5/Jun |
23-24/Jun |
8-9/Jun |
Below are fixed-date holidays:
|
New Year’s Day – (1/Jan-2/Jan) |
Saint Andrew– (30/Nov) |
|
Day of the Union of the Romanian Principalities – (24/Jan) |
Great Union Day/ National Day of Romania– (1/Dec) |
|
Labor Day– (1/May) |
Christmas Days – (25-26/Dec) |
|
Children’s Day – (1/Jun) |
|
|
Assumption of the Virgin– (15/Aug) |
|
- Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025
- National Law for Equal Opportunities 202/ 2002 modified to 178/2018
- Law no. 125/2016 regarding Romania’s accession to the European Center for Interdependence and World Solidarity, created by Resolution (89)14, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on October 21, 1993, transposed into national legislation.
- O.U.G. no. 67 of June 27, 2007 regarding the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women within professional social security schemes;
- O.U.G. no. 137/2000 on the prevention and sanctioning of all forms of discrimination, republished, with subsequent amendments and additions.
- Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA.
- Decree no. 342/1981 on the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), transposed into national legislation.
- Directive 2010/41/EC on the application of the principle of equal treatment between self-employed men and women, including agricultural workers, and the protection of self-employed women during pregnancy and maternity, repealing Council Directive 86/613/EEC.
- Directive 2006/54/EC In 2006, a number of legislative acts were repealed or replaced by Directive 2006/54/EC of 5 July 2006 on the application of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment between men and women. employment and work matters (reformation).
- Directive 2004/113/EC implementing the principle of equal treatment between women and men in the access to and supply of goods and services.
- Convention no. 122/1964 on employment policy.
- Convention no. 111/1958 on discrimination in the field of employment and the exercise of the profession.
- Convention no. 89/1948 on night work of women working in industry.
- Foreigners, other that those from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Swiss Confederation, must have work permits and a residence visa to enter, work or live in Romania.
- Certain non-EU citizens may be employed without a work permit, including people with permanent residency status, asylum seekers and nationals whose home countries have treaties or bilateral agreements with Romania, which allow free access to the Romanian labour market.
- Work permits are granted for one year and are automatically extended for successive periods until the termination of the worker’s employment contract.
- Further readings regarding work permit in Romania.