Asian workers face low pay and exploitation despite EU quotas filling labor shortages in Romania and Bulgaria.
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A Sri Lankan worker named Rehan highlights the low wages and difficulties faced by Asian workers who come to Romania under government quotas to address labor shortages, despite working multiple jobs. Thousands of workers from countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India have arrived in Romania as part of EU requirements for controlled migration, filling roles in hospitality and construction. While these quotas are intended to solve labor gaps exacerbated by the pandemic and emigration, they lead to issues such as high fees charged by intermediary agencies. Despite Romania’s recent entry into the Schengen area with Hungary, which allows easier travel across borders, workers like Rehan remain concerned about their precarious situations and low earnings. Similar reliance on foreign labor persists in Bulgaria, where low wages fail to retain workers, leading many to seek better opportunities elsewhere. Experts suggest that insufficient job conditions are a major factor in labor shortages rather than just skill gaps. The Romanian government hopes the Schengen integration will boost markets and regional development, while also pursuing energy independence.
