International automotive component manufacturers, which have invested hundreds of millions of euros in Romania over the last few years, say it is getting increasingly difficult to find skilled personnel. As a result, wages paid to employees will be growing fast.
"The labour market in Romania is overheated already, which could lead to personnel shortage and most likely to significant wage increases. It is a good place for established companies, but newcomers will find a very difficult job market situation," the representatives of Continental AG, which has five factories in Romania and is one of the main investors in this field, told ZIARUL FINANCIAR.
The same goes for Bos Automotive Products Romania, the subsidiary of German BOS GmbH & Co.KG.
"Skilled workforce is not any more that flexible to get as before in our area (the company's manufacturing facilities are located in Arad i.e.) because a lot of new foreign investments were made and unemployment is low. Low labour cost still exists but the costs (wages i.e.) are rising. We watch this carefully," said Ger Joris, general manager of Bos Automotive Products Romania.
The company is preparing to expand the activity of its factory in Arad, which required additional staff, yet recruitment was very difficult, because of the lack of skilled personnel.
The business of German Draxlmaier group, which has five factories in Romania, was also affected by human resources costs. The administrative manager of the company, Ferdinand Zilcher, has recently said he had seen wages rise beyond forecasts for the 17,200 employees.
Lack of workforce in Hunedoara and Alba counties due to emigration is also a big problem for the Japanese at SEWS (Sumitomo Electric Wiring System), who came in Romania in 2000. Officials of the company that operates four factories said the growth pace of turnover in the first
