--- title: "Labour shortage: Moldovan company plans to hire 2,500 Asian workers, but faces visa delays" url: https://moldova1.md/p/90185/labour-shortage-moldovan-company-plans-to-hire-2-500-asian-workers-but-faces-visa-delays published: 2026-11-14T09:00:00Z language: en author: "Liubomir Guțu" section: "Social" source: moldova1.md --- # Labour shortage: Moldovan company plans to hire 2,500 Asian workers, but faces visa delays > A Moldovan automotive company plans to recruit 2,500 workers from Asia next year to address a labour shortage. However, bureaucratic hurdles in the visa application process are delaying the company's plans. ![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/4f8663f3-cabc-49c7-bf91-93c834f8a31e.jpg) A Moldovan automotive company plans to recruit 2,500 workers from Asia next year to address a labour shortage. However, bureaucratic hurdles in the visa application process are delaying the company's plans. One of the main issues is the insufficient staffing at the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in India, which prevents the timely processing of requests from citizens in South Asia. **“We must bring these people into the country”** Hiring foreign workers is essential to expand business operations, attract investment, and maintain competitiveness in the regional market, stated Mariana Rufa, Executive Director of the European Business Association (EBA Moldova), at the annual conference on European Union enlargement, recently held in Chisinau. “As a country, we must maintain our regional competitiveness, which means introducing deregulation initiatives. These changes are necessary, but the deregulation process is moving slowly; it requires all regulatory and oversight institutions to agree to streamline procedures and shift processes toward digitalization,” noted Mariana Rufa. Currently, companies in the Republic of Moldova face difficulties recruiting the necessary number of workers from India and Nepal, as only one staff member at the Moldovan Embassy in India is responsible for processing visa applications, the EBA Moldova director added. “One company in the automotive sector alone needs 2,500 workers for next year—having secured a new contract—and it is not the only one. We must bring these people into the country. Ultimately, it is a matter of implementation capacity—enabling us to become competitive and mobilize the economy,” stated Mariana Rufa. Data from the General Inspectorate for Migration (IGM) show that, as of June 30 of this year, there were 24,178 foreign citizens registered in the Republic of Moldova with valid residence permits; of these, approximately 4,800 held documents authorizing them to work legally. The largest numbers of foreign citizens who came to work in the Republic of Moldova were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. According to recruitment agencies in the Republic of Moldova that specialize in bringing in workers from Asia—particularly from the southern part of the continent—foreign workers are primarily employed in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, logistics, the hospitality and catering (HoReCa) industry, and the service sector. **Emigration of Moldovans exacerbates labor shortage** The emigration of the working-age population and unappealing wages in certain economic sectors have exacerbated the labor shortage in the Republic of Moldova. To address the lack of personnel, an increasing number of companies are turning to foreign workers, particularly from countries in Central and South Asia. These individuals are primarily employed in sectors with high labor demand—areas where wages and working conditions are not sufficiently attractive to many local workers. *"Attracting a workforce from abroad is an effective tool for meeting staffing needs, supporting economic growth, and fostering socio-economic development. The sectors where these foreign nationals work are typically those experiencing labor shortages and high demand—such as construction, delivery services, and agriculture,"* stated Cornel Triboi, Deputy Director of the General Inspectorate for Migration (IGM), during the *Zi de Zi* program on Radio Moldova. **Low wages lead some Moldovans to turn down certain jobs** Recruiting workers from abroad is a relatively recent phenomenon that has gained momentum in the Republic of Moldova over the last few years, according to Olga Gagauz, head of the "Academician Gheorghe Paladi" Sociological Research Center at the National Institute for Economic Research (part of the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova). The sociologist notes that the labor shortage is compelling companies to recruit workers from other countries in order to sustain their operations and continue their development. One of the main causes is the low wages offered for certain jobs, which many citizens of the Republic of Moldova find unattractive. "Migrants come to the Republic of Moldova with a clear economic objective. They temporarily accept more difficult conditions and limit their consumption in order to send money home to their families—a situation that leaves them vulnerable. The wages paid to these immigrants range between seven and nine thousand lei. Such pay is attractive to migrants because the employer provides them with accommodation and transport," the sociologist explained. Olga Gagauz noted that these same wage levels are considered insufficient by many Moldovan workers, who must cover their own housing costs, utility bills, and other daily living expenses. Conversely, for workers arriving from countries with lower income levels, the opportunity to save money and send it back to their families serves as a significant incentive to accept a job in the Republic of Moldova. **Over 21,000 Moldovans placed in jobs in 2026** Since the beginning of 2026, the National Employment Agency (ANOFM) has placed 21,010 individuals into employment. This figure includes 6,595 unemployed persons, as well as 618 individuals who were either hired for day labor or employed on fixed-term contracts of up to three months. One-third of these individuals were placed in sectors such as collective, social, and personal services; 13.8% in trade; 13.4% in industry; 13.2% in agriculture; 5.6% in public administration; 4.8% in construction; 4.5% in education; 4% in healthcare and social assistance; and 2.2% in transport, storage, and communications, among others. **Over 15,000 job vacancies** At the beginning of November, more than 15,100 job vacancies were registered with the National Employment Agency (ANOFM). For those with higher education degrees, 1,772 positions were available, including roles for specialists across various fields: 470 positions for engineers, managers, heads of departments, and directors; 446 for technicians; and 317 for healthcare specialists, among others. For skilled workers with secondary vocational-technical education, 7,740 job openings were available. The highest demand is for welders, demolition workers, electricians, and fitters (1,318), followed by specialists in transport and warehousing (1,302), light industry (1,051), machine and equipment operators and assemblers (964), and construction (931), among others. For unskilled workers—including pupils and students—over 5,600 job vacancies were available. Employers are seeking auxiliary workers (2,249), couriers (569), unskilled laborers (398), and manual laborers/porters (205), among others.