Boc Says 42,000 Work Contracts Signed Since New Labor Code Took Effect

05.04.2011 By Ioana Tudor

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Wednesday 42,000 work contracts have been signed over the past two days, after authorities started checkups aimed to eliminate illegal jobs.

According to Boc, 652 employers were checked on May 2 and May 3. He highlighted the program fighting illegal work will continue.

The prime minister recently advised employers who hire illegal workers to sign labor contracts, as the new work legislation states higher fines and even criminal punishments.

Boc said Friday he approved the program fighting illegal work to be carried out by the Work Inspection, the Financial Guard, the Police and the Gendarmerie, and added joint teams would start checkups.

The new Labor Code, which was pushed through the Parliament through a vote of confidence, took effect on May 1.

Under the new law, employers hiring up to five people without individual work contracts will be fined 10,000-20,000 lei (about EUR2,400-EUR4,850) per person. Hiring more than five people without contracts constitutes a crime and the employer will receive a prison sentence of one-two years, or forced to pay a criminal fine. (EUR1=RON4.1127)