Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Romania (Ratification: 1973)

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Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Active labour market policies. Employment trends. The Committee notes the information about the set of policies and legislative measures implemented by the Government to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment. In this context, the Government refers to the National Strategy for Employment (NSE) 2021–27 and the Action Plan for the period 2021–27 for its implementation. The general target of the NSE for 2027 is an employment rate of 75 per cent of the population aged between 20–64 years. The NSE includes measures to activate inactive persons able to work, the unemployed, especially the long-term unemployed, young people, including NEET (not in employment, education or training), women with dependent children, as well as other disadvantaged categories, by ensuring quick and quality transitions in employment, by developing human resources and increasing employability, by stimulating entrepreneurial culture and self-employment and by supporting the creation of new opportunities and jobs. The Government indicates that measures to stimulate employment are also supported by the Education and Employment Programme (2021–27) based on two major objectives: (i) optimization of education and training systems to respond to labour market requirements and (ii) strengthening the efficient functioning of the labour market and facilitating inclusive and equal access and participation in quality and sustainable employment for the workforce. The Government also indicates that Law No. 76/2002 on the unemployment insurance system and employment stimulation was amended in the period 2018–22 to offer a package of measures to increase employment of persons looking for a job and to stimulate employers to hire registered unemployed persons. The Committee notes that job subsidies are provided to employers who offer employment opportunities to certain disadvantaged groups of workers, including new graduates, persons with disabilities, unemployed persons over the age of 45, single unemployed parents, long-term unemployed persons, young people in the NEET category and young people at risk of social marginalization. The Government further provides information about employment and social protection measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic and the armed conflict in Ukraine in accordance with emergency ordinances. These measures include financing from public funds for the technical unemployment allowance and granting of an allowance of 75 per cent of the basic salary corresponding to the job held from the unemployment insurance fund. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the overall employment rate for the active population (20–64) reached 68.5 per cent in 2022, showing an upward trend compared to 65, 2 per cent in 2020. The Committee also notes the persistently lower employment rate for women, 59. 1 per cent in 2022 compared to 77.7 per cent for men. The Committee further notes that the overall unemployment rate was 5.6 per cent in 2022. In this context, the Committee notes the concern expressed by the European Commission in its 2024 Country Report for Romania that the Romanian labour market is characterized by low participation of young people, women, persons with disabilities, low skilled and Roma. Furthermore, the Government provides detailed statistical information about the implementation of the National Employment Programme in the period 2018–21, including the registered unemployment in this period. According to this information 224,287 persons were employed in the first three quarters of 2021, of whom 4,553 long-term unemployed, 2,409 persons of Roma ethnicity, 414 persons with disabilities, 161 foreign citizens, 9 persons who served custodial sentences, 8 young persons coming from the child protection system, 7 refugees and 7 repatriated persons. In addition, at the national level of 224,287 employed persons, 118,074 persons were from urban areas (52.64 per cent) and 106,213 from rural areas (47.36 per cent). As of 31st December 2021, the total number of unemployed was 234,757 of whom 108,393 were women and 126,364 men. By place of residence, the number of unemployed at the end of December 2021 included 71,404 unemployed from urban areas and 163,353 from rural areas.

The Committee requests the Government to provide a specific assessment of the impact of the “National Strategy for Employment (NSE) 2021–2027” in addressing the structural imbalances identified by the European Commission. Specifically, please provide data showing the trend in the employment gap between men and women and the participation rates of persons with disabilities and low-skilled workers since the strategy’s implementation. Please also report on the specific measures taken to address the urban-rural divide in employment opportunities, given that rural unemployment (163,353) remains more than double that of urban areas (71,404).

Informal economy and undeclared work. The Committee notes that the Council of the European Union, in its 2024 Recommendations for Romania, highlights the need to strengthen tax compliance and administration. Furthermore, the European Commission identifies the high tax wedge on low-wage earners as a significant structural barrier to entry into the formal workforce, contributing to the persistence of the informal economy. While the Government has introduced measures to define and penalize undeclared work (Emergency Ordinance No. 53/2017), challenges remain in ensuring effective transition to the formal economy. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the specific measures taken or envisaged to facilitate the transition to the formal economy, in line with the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy Recommendation, 2015 (No. 204). Specifically, please report on: (i) the impact of recent legislative measures and labour inspections in reducing the incidence of undeclared work; and (ii) any measures taken or envisaged to reduce the high tax wedge on low-wage earners to remove disincentives to formal employment, as recommended by international bodies.

Youth employment. The Committee notes that the unemployment rate of youth (15–24) stood at 22.8 per cent in 2022 and it remains significantly above the EU average (14.5 per cent) according to the 2024 European Commission Country Report for Romania. In addition, the rate of young people (15–29) not in employment, education or training (NEET) remains among the highest in the EU (19.8 per cent in 2022). In this context, the Committee notes the concern expressed by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in its concluding observations of 20 March 2024 at the high number of young people in the NEET category (Е/C.12/ROU/CO/6). The Committee further notes that in 2023 the National Agency for Employment (NEA) developed the Employment Programme for young people at risk of social marginalization with the general objective of promoting the participation of this category in the labour market through the provision of personalized social support by the territorial employment agencies and stimulation of employers to hire young people at risk of social marginalization. Given that the youth NEET rate remains among the highest in the EU, the Committee requests the Government to explain whether an assessment has been made explaining the reasons why previous measures have not succeeded in reducing this rate and how the new “Employment Programme for young people at risk of social marginalization” (2023) addresses the specific barriers faced by this group. Please provide concrete data on the number of young people at risk who have been integrated into sustainable employment or training through this new programme, disaggregated by sex and region (urban/rural).

Roma minority. The Committee notes the concern expressed by CESCR in its concluding observations at the widespread discrimination faced by Roma, in particular women and children, in accessing healthcare, education, adequate housing, employment and public services (Е/C.12/ROU/CO/6). The Committee also notes that the Government does not provide information in reply to its previous comments on this issue. The Committee deplores the lack of information provided by the Government in response to its previous comments, particularly in light of the CESCR’s 2024 findings on widespread discrimination. The Committee urges the Government to provide specific information on the active labour market measures taken to combat discrimination against the Roma minority and to promote their access to decent employment. Please provide statistical data on the participation of Roma persons in vocational training and employment programmes, and the outcomes achieved.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. The Government informs that in the application of Law No. 367/2022 on the social dialogue, the social partners were consulted in the Social Dialogue Commission of the Ministry of Labour and the Tripartite National Council on the proposal for the National Employment Strategy 2021–2027. In addition, the social partners are members of the inter-ministerial committee for monitoring the implementation of the Strategy. This contributes to the elaboration of the annual action plan for the application of the Strategy. The Government also indicates that at the level of the prefectures, there are social dialogue commissions in which consultations are held on the issue of employment at the local level, with the involvement of the county authorities (Territorial Labour Inspectorates/County Employment Agency). The Committee, however, notes that the Government does not reply to its previous comments. The Committee, therefore, reiterates its request to the Government to provide updated information on the manner in which the social partners are effectively consulted and participate in the development of the National Employment Programme each year. The Committee also reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that these consultations include representatives of other segments of the economically active population, including representatives of the Roma community, persons with disabilities, women and young persons, as well as of persons working in the informal economy.