Over 117,000 Work Contracts Signed Since New Labor Code Took Effect

05.10.2011 By Ioana Tudor

Over 117,000 individual work contracts were signed in Romania between May 2 and May 9, after authorities started checkups aimed to eliminate illegal jobs, the Work Inspection said in a press release Tuesday.

According to the press release, fines for illegal working exceed 3.7 million lei (about EUR907,000).

Prime Minister Emil Boc recently approved a program fighting illegal work to be carried out by the Work Inspection, the Financial Guard, the Police and the Gendarmerie.

He advised employers who hire illegal workers to sign labor contracts, as the new work legislation states higher fines and even criminal punishments.

The new Labor Code, which was pushed through the Parliament through a vote of confidence, took effect on May 1.

Under the new law, employers hiring up to five people without individual work contracts will be fined RON10,000-RON20,000 per person. Hiring more than five people without contracts constitutes a crime and the employer will receive a prison sentence of one-two years, or forced to pay a criminal fine. (EUR1=RON4.0885)