The Situation of the Romanian Worker in France
Almost half of the travailleur roumain en France are employed by companies with a majority French stake. They are often integrated for decades and contribute to the economic fabric of local communities. Nevertheless, they are also subject to a range of policies that restrict their access to jobs and push them into informality.
The first of these policies is deportation orders, which are frequently issued against Romanian citizens based on three criteria: overstaying their legal right to EU freedom of movement on the national territory (90 days); being deemed as posing a “serious threat to public order or to domestic security and international relations of the Republic”; and having received a prison sentence of over three months (CESEDA L214-1 and L214-2).1
Another policy is the creation of an alliance between the police and Romanian liaison officers. Twice a year, units of 20 Romanian liaison officers patrol together with French police agents in the most touristy areas of Paris. The aim is to dismantle Roma camps, which are a visible presence around major cities.
The Role of Romanian Workers in Shaping France’s Labor Market
However, these partnerships do not seem to help reduce the number of people sent back home on the grounds of petty criminality. Interviews with Romanian physicians reveal that a high proportion of them are ready to return permanently or for an extended period (131 out of 182). These figures may be related to their family circumstances, career prior to mobility and the conditions of their stay in France, but also to their perception of a need to invest money in their own country and to maintain a perspective on a definitive return.