Navigating the Complex Web: Power Dynamics and Interconnected Roles in Labour Migration Intermediaries

Romania has recently become a focal point in discussions on labour intermediation, particularly with the rising role of agencies that facilitate the placement of workers from non-EU countries. The country's labour market has faced increasing shortages in recent years, making the local workforce both scarcer and more expensive to hire. In response, the Romanian government has steadily expanded immigration policies for non-EU workers, raising the annual quota from 7,000 in 2017 to 100,000 in 2024.

The paper examines the complex structures, roles, and power dynamics of international labour intermediaries in their interactions with labour migrants and employers in Romania. This research responds to recent scholarly calls for a more nuanced understanding of the interconnected dimensions of the migration industry and system, moving beyond isolated analyses of specific actors in labour intermediation processes. By applying Bourdieu's theoretical frameworks and focusing on power dynamics, the paper explores how these relationships influence both the mobility and immobility of labour, ultimately shaping the experiences of migrant workers. The study concludes that the power exercised by labour intermediaries vary according to their structural configuration and the breadth of services they offer. Those with deeper involvement in the migration process wield greater influence over workers' migratory paths, manifesting in control over job opportunities, wage negotiations, information asymmetry, and conditions related to transport and accommodation. Additionally, the study suggests that migrant workers evolve over time, gaining "mobility power," which challenges the established power structures of intermediaries and prompts adaptations within the migration industry.

The study is based on qualitative research, including 42 in-depth interviews with managers of labour intermediation agencies and private recruiters, along with 17 meetings with companies involved in recruiting non-EU labour force.