“It’s also good for our salary.” Romanian employers are watching how Asian workers leave permanently for the West with the entry into Schengen

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It’s the first day in Schengen and, in addition to our joy, the Asian workers in Romania are even happier. The West is now just a plane flight away, without checks and hassles. Romanian employers watch helplessly as free movement leaves them without employees. Estimates show that more than half of the Asian workforce will leave us. Many say that they will go on vacation in Europe, while others admit that Romania becomes for them only a stopover to the West.

By the Observator editorial team on 01.04.2024, 20:30

The doors have opened for Asians working for us in the country.

“Hopefully some disgusting rules will change after Schengen.”

“I think the rules will be the same, so it will be good for anyone from our country to stay here.”

“We are very happy to be in Romania now, because now Romania is much better compared to other countries.”

And it is better here because we have become a gateway to the West and a transit country. Many admit that, from here, they will only buy a one-way ticket to the West.

Romanian employers look helplessly at how they will run out of people

“It’s good because we’re people from other countries. Now with Schengen it means we can visit, travel and it’s cool for us! And I think it’s good for our salary too.”

“It’s good for traveling. I’ve been here for three years and next year I’m going to Spain.”

Romanian employers look helplessly at how they will run out of people. Estimates show that up to 50% of the Asian workforce will leave once they enter the free movement area.

Synchronous Romulus Badea, vice-president Patronat labor force importers: It could be a big impact. It is a situation that we have to think seriously about, the opening of the Schengen zone brings them other possibilities, until now they had restrictions on traveling, now they can travel, be careful, they do not have the right to work. I think the first days of April will show us.

Employers admit that they will not be able to offer Western salaries

And nothing will be able to stop them. Employers admit that they will not be able to offer Western salaries.

Ruxandra Drăghici, Sales Director: Yes, that means they can leave. It is an opportunity for non-EU employees because of the ease with which they would migrate to countries where they are paid much better: Germany, Austria. From the employers’ feedback, some tell us that it is a valuable workforce.

At the end of last year, there were over 139,000 foreign workers with the right of residence in Romania. Nearly 19,000 come from Nepal and another nearly 15,000 are from Sri Lanka. Most of them work in fields such as retail, construction or hospitality.

The Schengen area allows more than 400 million people to travel freely between member countries without going through border controls.