Government wants to limit Romanians' right to work in European countries

Government wants to limit Romanians’ right to work in European countries

Newsroom 27/11/2018 | 15:12

Finance Minister Eugen Teodorovici says he wants Romanians working abroad to have a single work permit, valid for a limited period, and then look for work in another country.

According to HotNews, the minister made the statement during a parliamentary debate. The minister’s argument is that at the European level, as one area gets richer with workers migrating to it, the areas left behind remain poor.

“The work permit should be the same in all states, in terms of time. You should not be allowed, after you get your first permit, to renew your right to work, so that you’ll be forced to migrate to Europe. So if someone goes to Germany and keeps getting the right to work, they’ll never return to Croatia, Romania, or the places they originally left. Five years maximum, then you go to another country and look for a job,” said Teodorovici.

Essentially, Teodorovici wants to limit the time Europeans are allowed to work in a single foreign country, which would include Romanians who have managed to find jobs in other EU countries. He says he’s also spoken to other finance ministers in the EU.

Currently, the right to free movement is guaranteed in the European Union for citizens of the Member States. Thus, they can work wherever they want, for an unlimited period of time.