The Romanian Competition Council has imposed fines totaling €32 million (approximately 163 million RON) on eight major players in the automotive and engineering sectors. The companies were found to have entered into illegal “no-poaching” agreements, effectively freezing the movement of skilled labor across the industry.
This marks the first time the Romanian antitrust authority has sanctioned companies for anti-competitive practices specifically related to human resources.
The “No-Poach” Pact: Breaking the Rules of Recruitment
According to the investigation, the companies conspired to eliminate competition for specialized personnel. The agreement dictated that the firms would not compete for, or spontaneously recruit, each other’s employees. Furthermore, the companies agreed not to hire staff from one another without prior consent from the current employer.
Bogdan Chirițoiu, President of the Competition Council, emphasized the severity of these practices:
“Human resources are an essential parameter of competition between companies… This ‘no-poaching’ behavior is particularly harmful both to competition, by creating artificial market barriers, and to employees whose mobility opportunities are restricted.”
Distribution of Fines
The sanctions varied based on the size of the companies and their level of cooperation with the investigation. Automobile-Dacia SA received the largest penalty, accounting for half of the total fine.
| Company | Fine (RON) | Fine (approx. EUR) |
| Automobile-Dacia SA | 81,530,497 | €16.4 Million |
| Renault Technologie Roumanie SRL | 46,294,136 | €9.3 Million |
| Alten Si-Techno Romania SRL | 10,651,566 | €2.1 Million |
| Bertrandt Engineering Technologies | 7,710,801 | €1.5 Million |
| Expleo Romania SRL | 7,428,131 | €1.5 Million |
| Akkodis Romania SRL | 5,539,871 | €1.1 Million |
| Segula Technologies Romania SRL | 3,158,982 | €636,000 |
| FEV ECE Automotive SRL | 1,398,870 | €281,000 |
The investigation was triggered by a tip received via the Competition Whistleblower Platform. The subsequent probe revealed a coordinated effort to suppress labor costs and limit employee bargaining power.
The final fines reflect a level of cooperation from several participants:
- One company applied for the leniency program, providing critical evidence that significantly helped prove the cartel’s existence. In exchange, it received a substantial reduction in its fine.
- Five other companies admitted to the wrongdoing, qualifying for reduced sanctions under the settlement procedure.
Why This Matters for the Workforce
No-poaching agreements are considered “hidden” cartels. By agreeing not to “steal” talent, companies artificially suppress wage growth and career advancement. When employees cannot easily move to a competitor for a better salary or position, the natural market pressure that drives up wages and improves working conditions disappears.
This ruling sends a clear signal to the Romanian corporate sector: labor is a competitive market, and any attempt to restrict the free movement of workers will be met with heavy financial consequences.
More info on Consiliul Concurentei: https://www.consiliulconcurentei.ro/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/amenzi-munca-ian-2026.pdf
