BUCHAREST, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Romania's Labor Importers Employers' Association (PIFM) on Wednesday cautioned against rising anti-immigrant sentiment and urged authorities to protect the dignity and rights of foreign workers.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the association denounced hostile messages on social media targeting Asian workers, stressing that hiring non-EU labor is a "last resort" to address the country's severe workforce shortages.

PIFM explained that Romanian companies must first declare vacancies with the National Employment Agency (ANOFM). Only when these positions cannot be filled locally are employers allowed to recruit abroad, through a complex and costly procedure that can take up to a year.

"These non-EU employees work honestly, pay taxes, and earn their living with dignity. Stigmatizing them based on ethnicity or nationality origin is not only immoral, but also contrary to the European and international values Romania has committed to," the association added.

According to the General Inspectorate for Immigration, more than 140,000 non-EU nationals were legally employed in Romania at the end of 2024, mainly from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and India. Over 60 percent work in construction, hospitality, and transport sectors, which have been heavily hit by labor shortages. ■