Does Hard Work Truly Pay Off? Examining the Legal Landscape and Contemporary Challenges of Agricultural Employment in Romania

Vallasek, Magdolna Márta and Papp, Zsófia (2025) Does Hard Work Truly Pay Off? Examining the Legal Landscape and Contemporary Challenges of Agricultural Employment in Romania. AGRÁR- ÉS KÖRNYEZETJOG / JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, 20 (39). pp. 507-535. ISSN 3058-0447

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Abstract

Romania is often described as a highly agricultural country, being one of the largest cereal producers in the EU and the leading producer of sunflower seeds, honey, and plums. If this is the case, it stands to reason that employment in the agri-food sector plays a significant role in the occupation of the active population. Building on this observation, our study analyses the types of employment specific to the Romanian agricultural sector, alongside the most topical labour law issues it raises, with the aim of identifying both the potential positive aspects and pitfalls associated with work in this sector. Our hypothesis is that, due to the specific nature of agricultural activities and the structural characteristics of the Romanian agricultural system, the employment relationship based on an individual employment contract – as defined by the Labour Code – may not always provide a sufficiently flexible framework for the agricultural sector. Consequently, other atypical forms of employment are often necessary. Therefore, our research does not examine the typical employment relationships governed by individual employment contracts, as the focus is on those specific forms of employment that have emerged in the agricultural sector and are regulated in light of the characteristics of this area of activity. With this in mind, we direct our attention to day labour, self-employment, and cooperative work, drawing on the historical, legal, and general economic analysis outlined in the study.

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