Migrant workers who get to Romania have better legal opportunities to economically contribute in the host country than workers in other central-European and Baltic countries. The Migrant Integration Policy Index – MIPEX III is a tool used to assess, compare and improve national immigration policies in 31 countries in Europe and North America. According to MIPEX III, among the 31 assessed countries, Romania is 11th regarding mobility on the labor market, holding the same position with the United States of America.

Sweden is on top, followed by Portugal and Holland, the score they obtained being between 85-100. The three countries have a favorable situation (the 80-100 score is favorable, 1-20 unfavorable), while Slovakia and Cyprus, the last in this classification have a somewhat unfavorable situation (21-40). Among the first ten countries which offer a favorable mobility on the labor market, there are: Spain, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Italy. The EU average in this respect is 57, a score which is neither favorable nor unfavorable (41-59). Romania (68 points), United States of America and Estonia have scores above the European average, while Austria, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom are below average.

From unfavorable to favorable

The most favorable, most unfavorable and the average situations are described in the MIPEX in great detail. In short, if in the most favorable situation a migrant has the right and the opportunity to work and live in a foreign country like any other citizen and can start the formalities since the first day to find a job in the private or public sector, in the least unfavorable situation he will have to wait 5 years to have the same rights to work, study or to start his own business like the citizens of the respective country. Average favorability implies that all not foreign residents with working permits have legal access to the whole labor market. While all the qualifications of a migrant are recognized in the most favorable situation, in the least unfavorable one, these qualifications are not recognized and he is often forced to search for a job inferior to his level.

Romania is better prepared than most countries in the region

According to MIPEX III, from 2007 till 2010, immigrants were more supported on the labor market in 10 countries. Being a summary of existing national policies in May 2010, the work anticipates the tendencies on the labor market: „Several legal residents will have legal access to workplaces and training courses in a few immigration countries (Greece, Spain, Portugal) and in Central Europe (Hungary, Poland, Latvia)” is the optimistic scenario, while pessimists say that Estonia and Romania are the least prepared Central European countries regarding their future migration needs.

Still, there is some good news for Romania. Concerning the best practices in the 31 countries, Romania is better prepared than most countries in the region for migrant workers and their families, with similar policies to the new immigration countries of the workforce. „According to the legislation, immigrants and Romanians who do the same work should have the same conditions (practically almost the same) and social insurance (basically, half). Seasonal workers and their families do not have full access to all professions, as is the case with newer and older countries open to workforce migration. But they can still rely on a general support framework to find a workplace, made up of professional training and study grants”, specifies the Migrant Integration Policy Index III.

The conclusion of the report for Romania in the mobility on the labor market is that integration policies of the Romanian state are more favorable than the averages ones and better than in most Central-European and Baltic countries.

Source: Migrant Integration Policy Index III – www.mipex.eu