The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bucharest notes the outcome of an official meeting held between Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Romania, Madurika Joseph Weninger and State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity of Romania, Cipriyan Nicolae Vacaru.
This engagement represents a further milestone in a year of sustained diplomatic outreach led by the Ambassador since the establishment of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Bucharest on 16 July 2024. Throughout this period, the Embassy has worked closely with the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Labour Inspectorate, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to strengthen cooperation and enhance the welfare and protection of Sri Lankan workers in Romania.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to finalizing the long-awaited Memorandum of Understanding on Labour Cooperation. The MoU will establish a structured framework for ethical recruitment, worker protection, and coordinated oversight. The Ambassador proposed that the agreement be signed in Bucharest next year, possibly during a high-level visit.
The Ambassador further noted that the establishment of the Embassy has significantly strengthened Sri Lanka’s capacity to support the Sri Lankan community and to improve the accuracy of labour-related data.
Ambassador Weninger raised key challenges reported by migrant workers, including fraudulent recruitment practices, prolonged visa and work-permit processing, limited awareness of rights and complaint mechanisms, difficulties accessing healthcare, and language barriers. She also addressed the concerns of undocumented Sri Lankans and ongoing appeals for regularization. The Ambassador welcomed Romania’s indication that an amnesty measure is under consideration as part of broader labour and migration reforms expected in early 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.
Romanian officials outlined the country’s ongoing labour reforms, including new legislation taking effect in January 2026, which will strengthen oversight of recruitment agencies, improve complaint-handling mechanisms, and enhance transparency across the labour mobility process. They also expressed readiness to work with Sri Lanka to develop and disseminate multilingual information materials in English, Sinhala, and Tamil through the European Employment Services (EURES) network and other official channels, to ensure migrant workers have access to clear guidance on their rights and obligations.
The meeting also addressed social security and pension matters. Romania reiterated that the draft Social Security Agreement shared with Sri Lanka provides for the mutual recognition of pension contributions. Under Romanian law, a minimum of 15 years of contributions is required for eligibility, and the future agreement would enable Sri Lankan workers to receive pension benefits after returning home.
Ambassador Weninger conveyed Sri Lanka’s appreciation for Romania’s constructive engagement and the concrete steps underway to strengthen worker protections. She reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s intention to expand labour cooperation into skilled and white-collar sectors, reflecting the strong educational background and technical capabilities of Sri Lankan human capital.
Officials from both sides, including senior officers of the Ministry of Labour and the First Secretary and Attaché of the Embassy, were also associated with the meeting.
Both sides concluded by reaffirming their commitment to advancing a fair, transparent, and humane labour mobility framework that ensures the dignity and well-being of Sri Lankan workers and further strengthens the long-standing partnership between the two nations.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Bucharest, Romania
27 November, 2025
