Big demand in Romania for Lankan workers impacted by visa delays

Thursday, 27 February 2025 08:57 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Romania’s liking for skilled Sri Lankan workers is being hampered by inordinate delays in the issuance of visas and appointments, according to recruiting agencies and prospective employers.

Industry sources said that Romania needs around 100,000 migrant workers annually, and given the good skills and work attitude, Sri Lankans are favoured among those competing for Romanian jobs from South Asia and other countries.

In fact, recently, a popular Romanian television station featured Sri Lankan workers in a story on the lives and importance of migrant workers.

MENATWORK S.R.L., which specialises in providing workforce solutions for food and grocery delivery services throughout Romania, when contacted confirmed that the speed of visa issuance from Sri Lanka can be improved.

“Our company is facing significant difficulties in recruiting new workers from Sri Lanka, as several applicants have not yet received a visa appointment for approximately 12 months. Accelerating this process will allow us to bring in additional workers as soon as possible, ensuring the smooth operation of our services and the continued supply of essential deliveries to the Romanian public,” said MENATWORK Administrator Sebe Laurențiu Cristian.

The company’s clients include well-known delivery platforms such as Glovo, Bolt Food, foodpanda, Tazz by eMAG, and Uber Eats. “Currently, we have approximately 300 active couriers in delivery operations. However, this number remains insufficient to meet the contractual obligations we have with our partners,” Cristian added.

Romania has around 100,000 workers employed in different sectors, including construction, and food delivery is a new growing category with hundreds of Lankans awaiting visas as well as appointments.

Local recruiting agencies said the Romanian Embassy in Colombo has been facing issues of capacity in the past year with restricted visa appointments and issuance. The matter has been brought to the notice of both Sri Lankan and Romanian authorities seeking urgent resolution, the agencies said.

According to the Central Bank, total departures from Sri Lanka for global foreign employment amounted to 239,027 during the first nine months of 2024, recording a monthly average of 26,559. In 2023, total departures were 297,656, recording a monthly average of 24,805.

In 2024, Sri Lanka received $ 6.5 billion in workers’ remittances, up by 10% from 2023, but lower than the highest-ever figure of $ 7.2 billion in 2016.

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