ETF has recently engaged with the Romanian Government and the Romanian Parliament following concerns raised by its national aviation affiliate, Flight Personnel Union Romania (FPU Romania), regarding the use of employer-controlled psychological assessments on cabin crew members.
The case concerns a cabin crew member based in Romania, who has recently returned to work following a dispute with Wizz Air, which ended with a court-ordered reinstatement. Since the reinstatement, the worker has been prevented from flying due to a series of psychological assessments imposed and fully controlled by the employer, outside the established aeromedical and occupational health framework, and despite the worker holding valid medical and psychological certificates from independent, authorized institutions.
While the matter arises from an individual case, the implications are clearly broader. Allowing employers to disregard valid medical certification and substitute it with internal, employer-directed assessments risks upsetting the balance of power in employment relations. When such practices are linked, directly or indirectly, to safety reporting, they also risk undermining trust and discouraging workers from speaking up, with obvious consequences for safety culture and Just Culture principles.
After continued engagement at union and European level, the airline has now confirmed that it will accept the independent psychological certificate submitted by the worker and proceed on that basis. While this addresses the immediate situation, ETF believes the underlying issues highlighted by the case remain unresolved.
In a letter dated January 30, ETF seeks clarification and raises the attention of Romanian lawmakers to the pending case. “This issue merits attention at the parliamentary level, given its potential impact on worker protection, safety culture, and trust in regulated medical systems,” wrote ETF General Secretary Livia Spera, with warnings that the matter may be further referred to the European Aviation Safety Agency and the European Commission.
ETF’s engagement reflects a wider challenge in Eastern European aviation. While European rules and standards apply across the Union, their implementation and supervision can differ significantly between regions. Where safeguards are unclear, workers may feel exposed, and safety reporting may be discouraged, undermining the principles of Just Culture and effective risk management.
Josef Maurer, ETF’s Head of Aviation, said: “This case raises serious questions about oversight. ETF has called on Romanian authorities to step in and ensure that employees are properly protected and that safety tools are not misused.