Romania cracks down on undeclared work, fining delivery and transport firms over $4.7 million

A nationwide crackdown by Romania's Labor Inspectorate has exposed a significant problem with undeclared work, particularly within the booming digital platform economy. Over a three-week period in June 2026, authorities identified 2,053 individuals working without proper contracts in sectors like ride-sharing, online retail, and courier services. This led to the imposition of fines totaling over 23.3 million lei (approximately $4.7 million USD). The operation targeted companies relying on digital platforms, which are expanding rapidly but present challenges for labor law compliance. Inspectors focused on verifying employment contracts, correct registration in the national employee registry, working hours, overtime pay, and wage guarantees. The campaign specifically examined passenger transport services, online retail, and postal/courier activities. The findings highlight a widespread disregard for labor regulations, with substantial fines levied for undeclared and underdeclared work. Timiș county emerged as the epicenter of the issue, accounting for 1,459 of the undeclared workers and the largest portion of the fines, underscoring the severity of the problem in that region.