Romanians abroad requesting a minimum salary of €1,000 to return home

During a job fair organized on Saturday in Rome for Romanian employees, some 700 people filed applications for employment with construction companies in Romania. Some 7,700 jobs, with salaries ranging from €400-€1,000, were available during the fair, according to Labor Minister Paul Pacuraru.

However, several workers visiting the fair said they would not return to Romania unless they are paid a monthly €1,300-€1,500. A further job fair is to be organized in the Italian city of Turin and similar events will take place in Spain, the Minister said. The fairs are an attempt by Romanian authorities to persuade workers abroad to return to the country, given that Romania is facing an increasingly severe shortage of both skilled and unskilled workers.

Employers are expecting that only skilled workers, for whom salary offers are above average, will return to Romania. “When an employee shows he or she can do good work, the salary can amount to €1,000-€1,2000, because employers are interested in quality workers,” said the First Vice President of Construction Company Employers Union, Marin Crutescu.

Qualified workers are also needed in the milling and bakery industry. The President of the employers union in the field, Rompan, Aurel Popescu, said he is to hold talks this week with employer representatives on conditions and salaries to be offered to workers abroad.