All About Employee Leave & PTO in Romania
Learn what you need to know about leave requirements in Romania and how Justworks EOR can help you streamline hiring.
How an EOR Can Help with Employee Leave & PTO
Thinking about growing your team in Romania? Understanding local rules around paid time off and employee leave is key. With Justworks, compliance is straightforward. We help you create leave policies that meet Romanian labor laws and reflect cultural expectations around time off. From legal guidance to simplified HR processes, Justworks supports you at every step during hiring in Romania.
Employee Leave & PTO Expectations in Romania
In Romania, employees are entitled to paid annual vacation, sick leave, maternity and parental leave, and some other types of leave afforded by the employer and the social security system.
Vacation Leave
Employees in Romania are entitled to at least 20 days of paid vacation per year, with the possibility of more through collective bargaining or based on length of service. New employees receive a prorated amount. Certain groups — such as employees under 18, those with disabilities, those in hazardous roles, and women undergoing in vitro procedures — are entitled to up to three extra days. During leave, employees receive an allowance equal to their average daily wage.
Sick Leave
Employees in Romania can take up to 183 days of sick leave per year, with a doctor’s certificate. After 91 days, an expert physician must approve any extension. Sick pay is usually 75% of the employee’s recent average income, or 100% for serious illnesses. The employer covers the first five days, after that, the state pays the rest.
Maternity Leave
Female employees in Romania are entitled to 126 days of maternity leave per childbirth. At least 42 of those days must be taken after the birth, during the recovery period.
During maternity leave, employees receive 85% of their average monthly gross wages from the last six of 12 months, up to a cap. This benefit is paid by the social health insurance system, not the employer.
Paternity Leave
Fathers in Romania receive 10 working days of paid paternity leave, with an additional 5 days if they complete a childcare course. This leave is fully paid by the employer.
Fathers can also take at least two months of paid parental leave if the mother is on leave. If the father declines, the mother’s paid leave is reduced by two months, though she may choose unpaid leave or return to work with 30 days’ notice.
Other Parental Leave
After maternity leave, either parent can take paid parental leave until the child turns two (or three if the child has a disability). They receive 85% of their average net income from the past 12 months, up to a cap. The benefit is paid by the state, and no advance notice is required.
Carer’s Leave
Employees can request up to five paid working days of caregiver leave per year to support a seriously ill relative or household member. No advance notice is required, but documentation proving the relationship and medical condition must be provided.
Other Types of Leave
Here is a list of other types of permitted leave in Romania:
Family Emergency Leave: Up to 10 paid business days per year for emergencies due to illness or accident. Employees must inform the employer in advance. Time off must be made up later, based on an agreement with the employer
Personal Leave: Unpaid leave for personal matters. The duration is set by a collective agreement or internal company rules
Public Holidays in Romania
There are 13 public holidays in Romania that all employees must receive off:
New Year's Day: January 1 and 2
Baptism – Epiphany: January 6
The Sobor of the Holy Prophet John the Baptist: January 7
The Unification of the Romanian Principalities Day: January 24
Good Friday: Variable
Easter Sunday, Monday: Variable
Labor Day: May 1
The Children’s Day: June 1
Whitsuntide Sunday, Monday: Variable
Saint Mary’s Ascension Day: August 15
Saint Andrew’s Day: November 30
National Day: December 1
Christmas: December 25–26
The holidays are paid for by the employer, and all employees must receive these holidays off.
Ready to Hire Confidently in Romania?
Justworks makes building your global team seamless by helping you hire and onboard talent in Romania and beyond. Save yourself the time and hassle of international hiring today.
