What changed for Romanian labour inspections in 2026: the fine for undeclared work rises to 40,000 lei per person, a cumulative cap of 1,000,000 lei, and body-worn cameras for inspectors.
Translated from Romanian. This article covers Romanian labour and tax law; the Romanian version is canonical and is updated first.
From 1 January 2026 the penalty regime for undeclared work in Romania tightened significantly, and inspectors gained a new tool: body-worn cameras. For any employer, the stakes of an inspection are no longer a symbolic fine but amounts that can threaten the business. Here is what changed and how to prepare.
The measures were introduced by Law no. 239/2025, published in the Official Gazette in December 2025, with the new fines for undeclared work applying from 1 January 2026. Note the correct number: incorrect citations circulate publicly (for example “Law 213/2025”) and should be avoided. The authoritative source is the text published in the Official Gazette.
A company found with several undeclared workers can therefore accumulate fines in the hundreds of thousands of lei in a single inspection. This is a change in order of magnitude, not nuance.
It is not limited to the absence of a contract. The law defines it on several levels:
Each of these can be classified as undeclared work, even if the company formally holds a contract for that person.
Labour inspectors may wear body cameras during inspections. Key rules:
For employers this means the moment of inspection is documented visually: who was present, what they were doing, what was said. After-the-fact reconstructions on paper carry less weight against a recording.
Beyond fines, serious and repeated forms of undeclared work can attract criminal liability, particularly where many people are involved or where the situation is not remedied after formal notice. This is a business risk and, potentially, a personal one for the administrator.
The point is not to hope no inspection comes, but to keep reality and documents aligned:
Workly maintains contract records and prepares data for timely REGES registration, so nobody works “before the paperwork”. Time tracking — with a rotating QR kiosk and NFC cards — produces an auditable attendance history, timestamped and matching the real schedule: exactly the kind of evidence an inspection looks for. Documents and time records export immediately on request, and the contract–REGES–time record chain stays consistent. That is the difference between entering an inspection fully up to date and reconstructing in a hurry under the pressure of a fine that can reach one million lei.
Informational article, accurate at the date of publication. Not legal advice. Fine amounts and inspection procedures may change — always check the current text at source (Labour Inspectorate, Official Gazette) or consult a specialist.
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