Workplace searches: balancing employer’s interests and employee’s fundamental rights

Auteur/ices

  • Iulia Bria Faculty of Law, Technical University of Moldova, Lawyer, PhD in Law
  • Daniela Pojar PhD in Law, Technical University of Moldova

Mots-clés :

workplace search; employer’s control; employee rights; consent; proportionality

Résumé

The article examines the issue of workplace searches from the perspective of the legal balance between the employer’s right to protect property and the obligation to respect the employee’s fundamental rights. The author analy zes the legal framework governing private security and control activities, highlighting the absence of explicit regulation regarding body and vehicle searches of employees. The study emphasizes the practical and interpretative challenges arising from this legislative gap, stressing the need for clear internal regulations based on the employee’s informed consent and the principle of proportionality between the aim pursued and the means used. The conclusion affirms that workplace searches may be legitimate only when they respect the employee’s dignity, privacy, and physical integrity—fundamental values guaranteed by the Constitution and international human rights instruments.

 

Références

Boișteanu E., Romandaș N. Labour Law. Chișinău: S. n. (Î.S. F.E.-P. „Tipografia Centrală"), 2014.

Cobăneanu S., Dumitrescu Iu.-C. Body Search. In: National Law Review, No. 9-10/2010.

Code of Criminal Procedure of the Republic of Moldova of 14 March 2003. Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, No. 248-251 of 5 November 2013.

Labour Code of the Republic of Moldova of 28 March 2003. Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, No. 159-162 of 29 July 2003.

Explanatory Dictionary of the Romanian Language. [online], [cited 02.03.2026]. Available at: http://www.dex.ro/perchezi%C8%9Bie

Law No. 135/2010 on the New Code of Criminal Procedure. [online], [cited 02.03.2026]. Available at: http://www.dreptonline.ro/legislatie/codul_de_procedura_penala_legea_135_2010.php

Law No. 283 of 4 July 2003 on Private Detective and Security Activity. Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova, No. 200-203 of 19 September 2003.

Vîzdoagă D. Application of the Proportionality Test in the Conduct of Searches and the Seizure of Objects and Documents. In: Journal of the National Institute of Justice, No. 4(59)/2021.

Publiée

2026-06-30

Numéro

Rubrique

Private Law

Comment citer

« Workplace searches: balancing employer’s interests and employee’s fundamental rights  » (2026) The Annals of “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati. Legal Sciences. Fascicle XXVI, 9(1). Disponible sur: https://ojs.ugal.ro/index.php/als/article/view/10247 (Consulté le: 2 novembre 2026).

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