The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Romania, led by Ambassador Madurika Joseph Weninger, recently held a strategic meeting with the Chief of Police, General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), Tiberiu Giurea, to address critical concerns affecting Sri Lankan migrant workers. The discussions focused on illegal recruitment, fraudulent visa practices, work-permit and residence-document compliance, repatriation, and overall worker protection.
The meeting comes ahead of major reforms to Romania’s labour-migration legislation, expected from January 2026, which aim to strengthen recruitment oversight, clarify employer responsibilities, and enhance protections for non-EU migrant workers. These reforms also target illegal recruitment and exploitation, issues that have affected several migrant communities, including Sri Lankans.
During the discussions, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka highlighted challenges faced by Sri Lankan workers, including scams by recruitment agents in Sri Lanka and Romania, delays in work-permit processing, and cases where workers were returned upon arrival. IGI confirmed measures to investigate illegal recruitment networks, ensure employer compliance, and strengthen accountability under the new legislation.
The Chief of Police of the IGI also emphasized that the confiscation of passports or travel documents is illegal and encouraged workers to report any violations immediately. The Embassy will continue providing guidance, translation support, and coordination with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), which holds primary responsibility for ensuring that Sri Lankan migrant workers receive timely pre-departure information and assistance before traveling to Romania.
This engagement reflects the ongoing commitment of both the Sri Lankan and Romanian governments to safeguard migrant workers, promote safe migration, and uphold transparent, accountable recruitment practices.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Bucharest, Romania
16 December, 2025
