Western Demand Wins Romanian Workers Coronavirus Travel Waiver

Scenes of the packed terminal, breaking all social-distancing restrictions imposed by the government to tackle the spread of COVID-19, caused consternation in the European Union country, where the novel coronavirus had killed more than 300 people as of Sunday.

But they also underscore the trade-off between tackling the pandemic and protecting economies: Western European agriculture is dependent on cheap Eastern European labour, and tens of thousands of Romanians and their families are dependent on the pay.

Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said the flouting of regulations was "unacceptable" but that "the absorption of this workforce [in Romania] is today almost impossible."

Indeed, it was Orban's government that on April 4 issued an order exempting all charter flights carrying seasonal workers from the restrictions imposed on commercial flights to and from COVID-19 hotspots.

The authorities, recruiters and foreign employers have been accused of endangering lives. 

But the government says it expects between 80,000 and 90,000 Romanians - many of them from impoverished rural areas - to make similar trips for seasonal work in Western Europe this year. It is promising measures to make sure distancing regulations are respected.

"These people act out of despair," said Sorin Faur, a human resources expert and founder of the Bucharest-based HR Academy consultancy. "They have no other chance."

Labour supply almost certain to fall short

At the other end, Germany has lifted coronavirus travel restrictions for migrant workers, coming to the aid of farmers who say they need 80,000 workers over the next two months to harvest produce and ensure supermarket shelves are not left bare.

Likewise, Italy's Confederation of...