Employment Contract in Romania
1Legal Contract Requirements & REVISAL Registration
- According to the Romanian Labor Code (Legea 53/2003 – Codul Muncii), every employment contract must be registered in the National Register of Employees (Registrul General de Evidenţă a Salariaţilor / REVISAL) prior to starting work.
- Exact deadline: the employer must complete the REVISAL registration at least one working day before your first day of work.
- Letting someone work without prior registration can carry a fine of up to 20,000 RON per employee (capped at 200,000 RON); paying within 48 hours reduces it to 10,000 RON.
- The employer is obligated to provide the employee with a copy of the contract before they commence work.
2Probationary Period (Perioada de Probă)
- During an employment contract, only one probationary period is permitted, except in special cases (such as starting a new position/profession with the same employer, or jobs with difficult/harmful/dangerous conditions).
- Legal maximum (Codul Muncii Art. 31): up to 90 calendar days for standard execution roles, 120 days for management positions, and 30 days for persons with disabilities.
- The probationary period is counted as official employment history.
3Supervision and Official Authority
- The Romanian Labor Inspection (Inspecţia Muncii) and its regional offices (Inspectoratul Teritorial de Muncă) are the official authorities overseeing the proper execution of labor contracts.
- Any modification to contract clauses during its execution requires a formal addendum (act adiţional), unless the law explicitly provides an exception.
- This must be verified based on current regulations and individual circumstances.
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📋Basic Labor Rights Every First-Time Employee Should Know
A statutory minimum of 20 paid working days of annual leave per year.
Up to 48 hours/week including overtime (typically 40h + up to 8h OT), averaged over a 4-month reference period.
Employee resignation: up to 20 working days for execution roles (up to 45 for management); employer non-disciplinary termination: minimum 20 working days' notice.
16 for full-time employment; from age 15 with parental/guardian consent, only for age-appropriate work.
Source: Romanian Labor Code (Codul Muncii) — Articles 31, 75, 81(4), 114, 145.
🚧Real Documented Labor-Rights Violations — and What the Labor Inspection Does About It
The labor laws above are solid on paper, but news investigations show some employers — particularly in construction and service sectors — don't follow them. Per the Business & Human Rights Centre (based on a Beet/Meduza investigation, April 2023), 11 Nepali workers went unpaid for months, with their employer demanding money to let them break their contracts; 4 others had rent deducted at roughly double the market rate. Per Al Jazeera (December 2023), one Sri Lankan worker paid a €3,000 agency fee but received only €500/month against a promised €800; anti-trafficking NGO eLiberare also reported "terrible" conditions for Sri Lankan workers at a meat-processing factory.
One more important regulatory change from OUG 32/2026: employment contracts not drafted in Romanian carry a fine of up to 6,000 RON per violation for the employer — meaning you have the right to request an official Romanian-language version of your contract, even if you were also given an English or Persian copy.
Sources: Business & Human Rights Centre, Al Jazeera, Gandul.ro, PwC Romania (OUG 32/2026 analysis). The cases above concern Nepali and Sri Lankan workers, not necessarily Iranian ones — but the abuse pattern and the legal complaint route are the same for any foreign national.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can an employment contract have more than one probationary period?
Generally, only one probationary period is permitted, except in special cases like a promotion or changing positions with the same employer. The legal cap is 90 days (execution roles) or 120 days (management).
What happens if my working conditions change?
Any changes to your salary or main working conditions must be recorded and signed through a formal addendum (act adițional).
By when must my employer register me in REVISAL?
At least one working day before your first day of work. Letting you work without this prior registration exposes the employer to a fine of up to 20,000 RON per employee.
What if my employer doesn't pay me or violates my contract terms?
You can report it directly to your regional Labor Inspection office (Inspectoratul Teritorial de Muncă); this authority runs targeted inspection campaigns for employers of foreign workers and does issue real fines.
Am I entitled to an official Romanian-language version of my contract?
Yes. Under OUG 32/2026, contracts not drafted in Romanian carry a fine of up to 6,000 RON per violation for the employer; always request an official Romanian-language version, even if you also have an English or Persian translation.
This guide is part of the "Work & Employment" collection.
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