Migrant Workers in Romania Warn of Rising Far‑Right‑Fuelled Hate After Attacks on Delivery Riders

Bucharest, Romania — Migrant delivery riders and other non‑EU workers in Romania say they are increasingly fearful after a high‑profile August attack and a wave of hostile online and political rhetoric.

Incident and reaction

Bangladeshi food delivery rider Sabbirrul Alam says he has stopped doing night shifts in Bucharest after a man struck another Bangladeshi on the street in August while shouting, "Go back to your country!" and "You are an invader!" The 29‑year‑old told reporters the attack surprised him and left him afraid to work at night.

"I think people have become very angry," Alam said, wearing a black cap bearing the Romanian flag.

President Nicusor Dan condemned the assault as an "act of xenophobic violence," saying it followed the spread of "voices inciting hatred against foreigners" and warning that "words have real, sometimes dramatic consequences."

Political context and disinformation

The incident came days after a leading member of the far‑right AUR party, which has been gaining support, urged people on Facebook to refuse deliveries from drivers who aren't Romanian. AUR leader George Simion also posted allegations that migrants received better housing than Romanians in one Bucharest block; the building owner reportedly dismissed that claim, saying renovated flats were intended for all workers.

Romulus Badea, president of the Employers' Federation of Labour Force Importers, said physical attacks so far appear isolated but warned social media has amplified false claims that "these people are coming to take our jobs." The Council of Europe's anti‑discrimination body, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), recently flagged an "increasing presence of hate speech in political discourse, in the media and online" in Romania.

Scale and economic backdrop

The number of non‑EU workers in Romania has risen steadily, reaching about 140,000 by the end of 2024. Many come from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey and India. As large numbers of Romanians work abroad, Romania faces one of the EU's most acute labour shortages in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, trade and hospitality, according to a European Employment Services report.

Other incidents and responses

Workers told reporters they have experienced degrading treatment. In October, anonymous posters in central Bucharest showed a Nigerian man arrested on rape charges and urged residents "to defend their city"; police removed the posters and no group claimed responsibility. In early November, near Bucharest, a Sri Lankan delivery rider was struck with a charging cable, cursed at and spat on after a traffic dispute. He filed a police complaint but later withdrew it.

After that case became public, a trade union said it would offer free legal assistance and support to migrant workers facing abuse or harassment, calling repeat offences "deeply concerning." The national police told a news agency it did not have the statistical data in the form requested when asked whether incidents involving foreign workers had increased.

Outlook

Advocates and employers warn that rising hate speech, political polarisation and disinformation raise the risk of further attacks and workplace discrimination. Calls for stronger monitoring, clearer public messaging from political leaders, and legal support for victims are growing as Romania balances its economic reliance on migrant labour with social tensions.