What to Do If You Are Not Paid on Time in Romania – Foreign Worker’s Guide

Not being paid on time is stressful, especially far from home. But reacting in anger or panic usually makes things harder. Most pay problems are solved calmly, with a conversation and a few documents. Here is a measured way to handle it, from the gentlest step to the most serious.

First, understand what “on time” means

By law, employers in Romania must pay salaries at least once a month, on the payment date set in your employment contract. Salaries are usually paid for the previous month’s work. A delay of one or two days can happen because of bank processing or an internal error, and is often fixed quickly. So before assuming the worst, check what date your contract actually says and how many days have really passed.

Step one: talk to your employer or HR first

This is almost always the right first move. Ask politely and factually, for example: “My salary for this month has not arrived in my account yet. Could we check what happened?” Many situations end here, because the cause is a simple mistake. Approaching it calmly also protects your working relationship. Give the employer a fair chance to explain and fix it before going further.

Step two: check your documents

Facts help more than feelings. Look at:

• your employment contract, to confirm the agreed payment date and salary;
• your pontaj (the record of days and hours you worked);
• your payslip (“fluturaș de salariu”), if you received one;
• your bank statement, which shows whether the money arrived and when.

If you are not sure what these documents mean, our guide to the Romanian employment contract explains gross and net salary, the pontaj and the payslip in plain language.

Step three: keep a calm record

This is not about preparing for a fight. It is about having clarity if the problem continues. Note the dates the salary was due and when (or whether) it arrived. Keep messages or emails where you asked about it. Save copies of your contract, payslips and bank statements. If everything is resolved, you simply have a tidy record. If it is not, you are prepared.

Step four: if it continues, contact the Labour Inspectorate (ITM)

If you have spoken to your employer and the salary is still not paid, or the delay is repeated and unjustified, you can turn to the authorities. The Labour Inspectorate (Inspecția Muncii, with local offices called ITM — Inspectoratul Teritorial de Muncă) protects employees’ rights, and using it is free. This is an escalation step, used when dialogue has not worked, not a first reaction.

How a complaint (“sesizare” or “petiție”) works:

• Where: online through the electronic petition form on the Inspecția Muncii website, in person at the local ITM office, or by email.
• Your details: you give your identification data (name, personal numeric code/CNP, ID details) and choose the right institution (Inspecția Muncii or the ITM for your county).
• What to write: describe the situation factually and in order, without emotion. For example: that you worked according to your contract and pontaj, but the salary for a specific month was not paid by the agreed date.
• What to attach: a copy of your employment contract, payslips if you have them, and bank statements showing the money did not arrive.
• What happens next: the authority normally must respond within 30 days (this can be extended in justified cases) and may carry out an inspection at the employer.

Your rights, briefly

Being paid for your work is a legal right, not a favour. An occasional one-day delay is usually nothing to worry about, but repeated or unexplained non-payment is not normal, and you are entitled to act on it. The calm, step-by-step approach above is not weakness — it is the approach most likely to get you paid while keeping the situation under control. You do not have to accept being unpaid, and you do not have to turn it into a conflict on the first day either.

Frequently asked questions

How late can my salary legally be?

Salaries must be paid at least once a month, on the date set in your contract. A delay of a day or two is often a processing or bank error. A repeated or unexplained delay beyond the contract date is not normal, and you can raise it — first with your employer, then, if needed, with the Labour Inspectorate.

What is ITM / Inspecția Muncii?

It is the public authority that supervises labour law and protects employees’ rights in Romania. Inspecția Muncii is the national body; ITM (Inspectoratul Teritorial de Muncă) is its local office in each county. You can submit a complaint for free.

Can I be punished for making a complaint?

Romanian labour law protects employees and treats unjustified non-payment of salary as a breach by the employer. The law does not allow you to be dismissed simply for asserting a legal right. If you are worried about your specific situation, it is wise to keep records and, where possible, seek advice before acting.

What documents do I need to make a complaint?

Usually your identification details, a copy of your employment contract, any payslips, and bank statements showing the salary did not arrive. Describe the situation factually and in chronological order.

Should I stop going to work if I am not paid?

Be careful here. Stopping work on your own can complicate your situation. The safer path is to raise the issue clearly with your employer first, keep records, and seek advice or contact the Labour Inspectorate if it is not resolved, rather than acting on your own in a way that could affect your position.

This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. Procedures and deadlines may change. For your specific situation, check current information from Inspecția Muncii and, where possible, seek qualified advice.