Employment program aids vulnerable communities in Romania
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In Romania, the National Agency for Employment (ANOFM) and BAT Romania are working together to create job opportunities in communities affected by cigarette smuggling.
The program began in 2025 and has so far helped over 120 people gain professional certifications recognized throughout Europe. Recently, the partnership expanded to include the National Probation Directorate of the Ministry of Justice, offering training to people under probation supervision to help them reintegrate into society.
The latest training session, held in Suceava county, focused on vulnerable populations and included thirteen people training to be cooks’ helpers, ten of whom were under probation. ANOFM and BAT Romania initially targeted Suceava and Dolj counties, areas with high rates of illegal cigarette trade, hoping to offer alternatives to illicit commerce. Ileana Negulescu of BAT stated that each legal cigarette sold weakens the illegal trade and each program graduate contributes to community safety.
Adrian Zvîncă, president of ANOFM, emphasized the program demonstrates how public and private partnerships can create concrete results for communities. Diana Mustățea, of the National Probation Directorate, added that professional training and employment are essential tools for reducing social vulnerabilities and enabling rehabilitation. According to Novel Research, illegal trade in tobacco products reached a record high of around 14% of the total market, costing the state over 2.5 billion lei annually.
