Understanding the Romanian Working Week: Hours, Holidays and Rest

Whether you are starting your first job in Bucharest or hiring a team in Cluj-Napoca, it helps to know how working time is generally organised in Romania. The rules sit mainly in the Labour Code, and a few basics are worth understanding before you sign anything.

The standard working week

The usual full-time pattern is eight hours a day, five days a week, which makes forty hours. Many offices run from Monday to Friday, often starting between eight and nine in the morning. Some sectors, such as retail, hospitality and healthcare, work in shifts or at weekends, and these arrangements should be set out in the individual contract.

Part-time work is also recognised in law. If you are offered fewer hours, your contract should state the daily or weekly schedule clearly.

Overtime

Work beyond the agreed schedule is treated as overtime. In general, it should be compensated either with paid time off within a set period or with a pay supplement. There are also limits on total weekly working time, including overtime, so it is worth asking how extra hours are recorded and agreed at your workplace.

Annual leave

Employees in Romania are entitled to paid annual leave, and the law sets a minimum number of working days per year. Employers or collective agreements may offer more. Leave is usually planned through a yearly schedule, and many companies ask staff to share preferred dates early in the year.

Do check how your employer handles carry-over and what happens to unused days. These details vary and are normally written into internal rules or the contract.

Public holidays

Romania has a number of public holidays during the year, several of which are linked to religious and national traditions. Orthodox Easter, which does not always fall on the same date as Easter in Western Europe, is among the most important. Christmas, 1 December (National Day) and 1 May are also widely observed.

When a holiday falls on a weekend, it is not automatically moved, so the number of days off can differ from year to year. Employees who work on a public holiday are generally entitled to compensation, again either in time or in pay.

Practical checklist

• Confirm the weekly schedule and whether any shifts or weekend work apply.
• Ask how overtime is requested, recorded and compensated.
• Check your annual leave entitlement and the rules for booking it.
• Look at which public holidays your employer treats as days off.
• Keep a copy of your signed contract and any internal policies.

Rules can change and sector agreements may add extra rights, so for specific cases it is sensible to consult the official text of the Labour Code or seek advice from a qualified employment professional. Understanding the basics, though, will help you set expectations and plan your year with confidence.