Minimum Salary Level for Foreign Workers Increased Significantly

The situation

Effective January 6, 2018, the minimum monthly salary for foreign workers in Romania has increased to RON 4,162, up 33 percent from last year. The minimum monthly salary for highly-skilled workers has increased to RON 16,648.

A closer look

• Initial and renewal applications. Employers of foreign nationals seeking to obtain or renew a work permit on or after January 6, 2018 must increase the foreign national’s minimum salary to comply with the new rule.
• Pending applications. Employers of foreign nationals with pending work permit applications as of January 6, 2018 must increase the foreign national’s minimum salary to comply with the new rule. 
• Immigration applications that do not meet the minimum salary will be rejected.

 

Reminders on other requirements

• Benefits and allowances. As before, benefits and allowances may only be included if they are specified in the employment contract (which must be registered in the national registration system known as REVISAL); if they are guaranteed and fixed; and are not paid in kind. Holiday allowance cannot be included.
• Currency. As before, employers are not allowed to pay foreign workers in a foreign currency.

 

Background

This increase follows the increase of the national minimum wage by 31% on January 1, 2018. The national minimum wage does not significantly impact foreign workers without dependents because employers of foreign workers must pay a much higher minimum salary that is based on the worker’s skill level.

However, foreign nationals must earn at least the amount of the national monthly wage above their minimum salary to sponsor a dependent.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].