Equal Opportunities for Men and Women in Romania. Anti-discrimination and Anti-harassment Policies.

Bucharest, 14 May 2019

New obligations have recently been enacted in Romania starting with 2 May 2019 for the employers, to ensure equal opportunities and treatment for men and women via the Government Decision no. 262/2019. They include:

a) explicit provisions in the Internal Regulations of companies that discrimination based on sex is forbidden;
b) implementation of training programs, actions, information, education and awareness campaigns for the employees, regarding their obligations in this field;
c) providing specialized information and training sessions in the field of equal opportunities and treatment between men and women for the management of the company and for other management positions;
d) promoting an attitude based on mutual respect and good collaboration to generate professional behaviour at all times, both in the workplace and out of work, as well as in the on-line environment;
e) informing employees on the procedure for filing complaints against sexual harassment / inappropriate behaviour at work and on procedure for solving these complaints;
f) regulating the institutional circuit and the necessary steps in order to immediately inform the authorized public authorities of any discrimination case.

Government Decision 262/2019 has also set out the main elements that the internal Anti-discrimination and Anti-harassment Policy should provide. Fines of up to RON 10,000 (approx. 2,200 EUR) may be imposed on the employer for lacking in the internal regulations of the company the provisions prohibiting discrimination based on sex.