HG 146/2026 sets the full-time gross minimum at 4,325 lei a month, or 25.949 lei an hour. It applies to household staff like any employee.
The written contract in Romanian and its REGES-ONLINE registration must both be done at the latest the day before work starts.
Per person, according to the Labour Inspection: 40,000 lei without a written contract, 20,000 lei without REGES registration. It applies to private employers too.
Household staff in Romania: the short answer
A family in Romania has two legal routes for regular help at home. The first is to become an employer: a private individual can employ someone on an individual employment contract (CIM), signed in writing in Romanian and registered in the national employee register, REGES-ONLINE, at the latest the day before work starts. The second is to buy the service from a company, such as a cleaning or gardening firm, which employs the worker and invoices you.
What does not work is the shortcut many people assume. The day-labourer law (Law 52/2011) lets companies, sole traders and local authorities use day labourers, not private households. And its gardening category explicitly excludes private homes.
In plain words: either you employ the person properly, with a contract and REGES registration, or a company does it and sends you an invoice. Paying cash "by the day" is undeclared work, and the fines start at 20,000 lei per person.
The three options side by side
| Employ directly (CIM) | Company or agency | Day labourer (Law 52/2011) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who is the employer | You, as a private person | The company | Only companies, sole traders, local authorities |
| Paperwork for you | Contract, REGES, monthly payroll | A service contract and invoices | Not available to a household |
| Who pays taxes and contributions | You, through payroll | The company | Not applicable |
| Choice of person | Yours | Usually the company's | Not applicable |
| Fits | A nanny or housekeeper with fixed hours | Cleaning, gardening, pool care | Not a legal option for your own home |
Route 1: employing directly
The contract
According to the Labour Inspection's REGES-ONLINE portal, the employment contract must be:
- in writing, in Romanian, and signed at the latest the day before the employee starts;
- registered in REGES-ONLINE, also at the latest the day before work starts;
- based on a medical certificate confirming the person is fit for the job. Without it, the contract is void.
The employer must give the employee a signed copy. Since 2026, REGES-ONLINE has fully replaced the old REVISAL system, so any new hire, change or termination is recorded there.
Access to REGES-ONLINE if you live abroad
This is the practical hurdle for foreign owners. The Labour Inspection says an account can only be created with a valid Romanian personal number (CNP), through ROeID or a qualified digital signature linked to that CNP. For a non-resident employer with a tax identification number from ANAF, the Inspection describes access through a representative with a notarised power of attorney. In practice, most foreign families appoint a Romanian payroll accountant to run the registration and the monthly declarations.
Wage and contributions
From 1 July 2026, the gross minimum wage is 4,325 lei a month for a full-time schedule (HG 146/2026), or 25.949 lei per hour. For a full-time employee at the minimum wage, StartupCafe calculates a net salary of about 2,699 lei and a total cost to the employer of about 4,418 lei, taking into account the 200 lei tax-free amount that applies to the minimum wage from the same date.
The main payroll items under the Fiscal Code:
| Item | Paid by | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Pension contribution (CAS) | Employee, withheld by you | 25% |
| Health contribution (CASS) | Employee, withheld by you | 10% |
| Income tax | Employee, withheld by you | 10% |
| Work insurance contribution (CAM) | Employer | 2.25% |
Two points to check with an accountant before you sign. First, for part-time contracts, contributions are generally due at least at the level of the minimum wage, with exceptions for some groups such as students and pensioners. Second, the employer declares and pays these amounts monthly to ANAF.
Your other obligations as an employer
The Labour Inspection lists the basics for every employer: pay at least the minimum wage, respect working hours and rest days, grant paid leave and sick leave as the law requires, and provide health and safety training. A nanny who lives with the family also needs clear written terms on hours, rest and accommodation.
Route 2: a company or an agency
For cleaning, gardening or pool maintenance, the simplest legal option is usually a service company. The company employs its staff, pays their contributions and gives you an invoice. You do not appear in REGES-ONLINE at all.
Either you employ the person properly, with a contract and REGES registration, or a company does it and sends you an invoice.
Two models are common:
- A service company (cleaning, landscaping): you buy a service, not a person. The company decides who comes, although many will keep the same worker if you ask.
- A temporary work agency (agent de muncă temporară), regulated by HG 1256/2011: the agency is the employer and places a worker with you. Check that the agency is authorised.
For a family abroad who visits a few times a year, a company is almost always the better fit: no payroll, no CNP needed, and one invoice to pay.
Why the day-labourer law doesn't fit a family
Law 52/2011 regulates occasional unskilled work paid by the day. According to its consolidated text, the "beneficiary" can be a local authority, a legal person, a sole trader (PFA) or an individual or family enterprise. A private household is not on the list.
The gardening activity it allows (CAEN class 8130, landscape maintenance) is described as planting and maintaining parks and gardens "except private residential facilities". So even if you ran a business, it would not cover the garden of your own home.
Undeclared work: what it costs
According to a February 2026 statement by the Labour Inspection, undeclared work applies to employers who are "a natural or legal person", and the fines are:
| Breach | Fine |
|---|---|
| Work without a written contract signed by the day before | 40,000 lei per person, up to 1,000,000 lei |
| Work without REGES registration by the day before | 20,000 lei per person, up to 200,000 lei |
| Work while the contract is suspended | 20,000 lei per person, up to 200,000 lei |
| Part-time employee working beyond contract hours | 10,000–15,000 lei per person |
The risk is not only the fine. An undeclared worker has no pension or health insurance record, and an accident at work in your house is much harder to deal with.
Step by step: hiring a nanny or housekeeper
- Decide: direct employment or a company.
- If direct, agree the hours, the gross salary and the start date in writing.
- Ask for the medical fitness certificate before the first day.
- Have the contract drafted in Romanian, using the standard model.
- Register the contract in REGES-ONLINE at the latest the day before the start, yourself or through your accountant.
- Set up monthly payroll: salary, withholdings, the ANAF declaration and payment.
- Keep the signed contract, timesheets and payslips.
- For changes or termination, update REGES-ONLINE on time.
Frequently asked questions
Can a private person be an employer in Romania?
Yes. The Labour Inspection's guidance on undeclared work refers to employers who are natural or legal persons. The contract must be in writing, in Romanian, and registered in REGES-ONLINE at the latest the day before work starts.
Can I pay my gardener as a day labourer?
Not as a private household. Under Law 52/2011, only local authorities, legal persons, sole traders and individual or family enterprises can use day labourers. The landscaping activity also excludes private homes.
What is the minimum wage for a nanny or cleaner in 2026?
The national gross minimum wage is 4,325 lei a month for full-time work from 1 July 2026 (HG 146/2026), or 25.949 lei per hour. It applies to household staff like any other employee.
Is REVISAL still used?
No. REGES-ONLINE has replaced REVISAL. The transition deadline was extended to 31 December 2025, so new contracts are now registered only in REGES-ONLINE.
I don't have a Romanian CNP. Can I still employ someone?
You cannot open a REGES-ONLINE account yourself without a CNP. The Labour Inspection describes access for non-resident employers through a representative with a notarised power of attorney. Most families abroad either use an accountant this way or buy the service from a company.
The bottom line
Help at home is legal and common in Romania, but it has to be done one of two ways: as a real employer, with a written contract, REGES-ONLINE and payroll, or through a company that employs the worker. The day-labourer shortcut is not available to a family, and the fines for undeclared work are high.
If you are planning a move to a villa near Bucharest and want to think through the running of the house, with us or elsewhere, book a half-hour call with me. For the legal and payroll side, use an independent lawyer and a licensed accountant.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Read more: what it costs to run a villa each year · gated community fees and management · kindergartens and schools in north Bucharest · residence and CNP in Romania
Sources: Labour Inspection, REGES-ONLINE: Labour Code summary and employer information · Labour Inspection, REGES-ONLINE questions and answers (PDF) · ITM Botoșani, press release on undeclared work, 2 February 2026 · Law 52/2011 on day labourers, consolidated text (Rubinian) · HG 146/2026 on the minimum wage, quoted by StartupCafe · Labour Inspection, electronic day-labourer register
This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and amounts are current as of 22 October 2026. Payroll rates and exceptions should be confirmed with a licensed Romanian accountant, and contracts reviewed by an independent lawyer.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
