What happens if a foreign worker breaks the connection with the employer. Patronted: It is necessary to “digitize bureaucracy”

The lack of exclusively online procedures extends the waiting times, consumes resources and delays the integration of these workers in the labor market. The patronage of the Romanian labor importers draws attention to the existing solutions, and the benefits would be significant for all the parties involved, from employers and workers, to state institutions.

Foreign workers depend on bureaucracy digitizing to be able to change their employer

“It is necessary the change of employer It can be done in full online, without submitting the file at the counter. In addition to the job offer, the foreigner's record is issued by the Romanian authorities and, once loaded on the portal, can be checked directly by the IGI. In addition, unemployment documents are already issued in electronic format in most counties, which means they should not be submitted in original”, Said Elena Panțiru, vice -president of the employer's employer (PIFM).

Currently, the process is a hybrid one: the files are loaded online, but they must also be submitted in physical format, and the opinions are subsequently transmitted in digital format. “We want to change the employer or position to completely eliminate physical deposit. Foreigners are already in Romania, they are employed and verified. Eliminating this step would save time, people and energy for both us and Igi. The resources needed to operate these online changes would probably summarize 2-3 dedicated people, but the impact would be extremely beneficial for all“, Added Elena Panțiru.

What happens if a foreign employee breaks the connection with the employer

The employer emphasizes that the availability of the General Inspectorate for Immigration exists, but the entire process depends on the efforts of the recruitment agencies, which must prepare and submit the documents in both formats. Foreign workers are thus vulnerable: without the support of a specialized agency, their entry or re -entry into legality becomes almost impossible. “If a foreign employee breaks the connection with his employer, it is extremely difficult to find a new employer to introduce him in legality. Many do not know the procedural details and I do not know that without an agreement to stop the collaboration, nothing can be done”, Draws the attention of Elena Panțiru.

The employer of the labor force importers requests the acceleration of the digitalization of the processes and the implementation of completely online procedures for changing the employer and the function, considering this vital measure for the protection of foreign workers, the efficiency of employers and the good functioning of the state institutions.

The release of an opinion can take 5-6 months

Another major obstacle is still waiting for waiting times. In the case of a permanent worker's opinion for a highly qualified worker, if the request is charged today, the place available can be only in January. The only exception is the change of employer, which IGI Bucharest prioritizes to avoid blocking the activity of the worker and the employer. “This process could be significantly accelerated by completely digitizing stages”, Stresses the vice president of the employer.

Changing function is facing the same barriers. Even when all the documents are valid and loaded on the portal, the process requires the submission of the physical file, the presence in the audience and multiple formalities. “The advancement of a foreign worker who has proven his skills is a natural step, but the current bureaucracy discourages these initiatives,” concluded Elena Panțiru.

In order to remedy this situation, the employer of the labor force importers submits as a solution to create, by the General Inspectorate for Immigration, of distinct sections on the online portal, dedicated exclusively to the change of the employer. These should be accompanied by a significantly registered waiting time scheduling system, so that the process is faster and more accessible to everyone involved.

Simplification of the procedure could bring to the budget about 18 million euros

This measure would make the process more efficient, reduce agglomerations and prevent major delays that affect the state and workers. Currently, the duration of obtaining a new work notice in case of change of employer or position can reach up to 6 months, generating estimated losses of 9,000 RON/person for the state. The simplification of the procedure could bring to the budget for up to 90 million RON (about 18 million euros) to a volume of 10,000 cases annually.

According to the official data provided by the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), in the first half of 2024 in Romania there were registered over 150,000 foreign workers. Most come from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Philippines and India, and over 70% activate in construction, Horeca and Transport, areas seriously affected by the lack of local labor.