Employment lawyer in Romania: dismissals, labour disputes and pensions
We assist you at every stage of the employment relationship: from signing the contract to its termination, from disciplinary proceedings to litigation and pension claims.
For most people, their job is their main source of income. A dismissal, a partly paid salary or a disciplinary sanction therefore affects the whole family straight away. In Romanian employment law the deadlines are short, and any document issued by the employer should be reviewed as soon as it is received, because a challenge filed late can be dismissed without the court looking at the merits.
We work with both employees and employers. For employees, we explain their rights, the evidence that will help and the realistic prospects of a claim. For employers, we show how to draft contracts, internal rules and decisions correctly, so that the measures taken can withstand a labour inspection or a challenge in court.
We also assist in dealings with the pension authorities: we review the pension decision, the contribution periods and income taken into account and any missing employment certificates, and we represent you in the challenge procedure, including in court, where the calculation does not reflect your actual working life. Periods worked in special conditions, allowances left out and contribution periods completed abroad are the most common sources of discrepancies.
How we can help with employment matters
- Drafting and reviewing employment contracts, addenda and job descriptions
- Internal regulations, disciplinary procedures and workplace policies for employers
- Challenging disciplinary, economic or professional-unsuitability dismissals
- Reinstatement and compensation following an unlawful dismissal
- Claims for unpaid wages, overtime, allowances and untaken annual leave
- Non-compete, confidentiality and training clauses: drafting and disputes
- Work accidents and occupational diseases: investigation, liability, compensation
- Assistance during disciplinary investigations and challenges to sanctions
- Workplace harassment, discrimination and unequal treatment
- Collective redundancies: procedure, informing and consulting employees
- Challenges to pension decisions, recalculations, recognition of employment certificates
- Disability pensions, survivor's pensions and other social insurance benefits
- Assistance during labour inspections and challenges to fines
When to get in touch
- You have received a dismissal decision and believe the reason is invented or the procedure was not followed.
- Your employer has been paying wages months late or does not pay for the overtime you work.
- You have been summoned to a disciplinary hearing and do not know what to say or which documents to provide.
- You want to join a competitor, but your contract contains a non-compete clause.
- You were injured at work and your employer refuses to record it as a work accident.
- Your pension decision leaves out periods you worked or allowances proven by employment certificates.
How we work
Document review
We read the contract, the decisions you received, your payslips or pension decision, and identify the deadlines that are running.
Strategy and evidence
We explain your options, from a formal notice and negotiation to a court claim, and what evidence to gather.
Filing
We draft the challenge, claim or reply to the employer or pension authority and file it on time.
Representation
We represent you in court and during enforcement, until the judgment is actually complied with.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to challenge a dismissal?
Under the Romanian Labour Code, a dismissal decision must be challenged in court within 45 calendar days of the date you became aware of it (30 days for disciplinary sanctions). The deadline is short and is not extended by negotiations with the employer. Please send us the decision as soon as you receive it, together with your contract and any other documents you received before the dismissal.
How far back can I claim unpaid wages?
For unpaid salary entitlements, the Labour Code sets, as a rule, a limitation period of three years from the date the amounts became due. Older amounts may be lost. Useful evidence includes the contract, payslips, bank statements, timesheets, e-mails and messages with the employer, and statements from colleagues.
Does an employee pay court fees in an employment dispute?
No. Claims in employment disputes, including dismissal challenges and wage claims, are exempt from court stamp duty in Romania. You still bear the lawyer's fees and any expert costs. If you win, you can ask the court to order the employer to pay your legal costs.
What can I do if I disagree with my pension decision?
A pension decision can be challenged, but the procedure and deadlines have changed in recent years under the new pensions law. Do not wait: we review the decision, check the periods and income taken into account, identify missing certificates and follow the challenge route that applies to your decision, within the legal deadline.
Other practice areas
Do you need a lawyer?
Tell us briefly about your situation. We will tell you honestly what can be done and what the next steps are, anywhere in Romania.
