Controlled access to UK labour market for new accession countries

The UK has decided to limit access to its labour market following the European Commission’s recommendation to permit Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU on 1 January 2007. From that date Romanians and Bulgarians will have the right to travel throughout the EU. 

In the UK low-skilled workers from Romania and Bulgaria will be restricted to existing quota schemes to fill vacancies in the agricultural and food processing sectors. There will be no net increase in these existing schemes and workers will be required to have an authorisation document.

Skilled workers will be able to work in the UK - as now - if they get a work permit or qualify under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, if they are a student, are self employed or as their dependents.

These new arrangements will be reviewed within 12 months and the Government’s proposed new Migration Advisory Committee will assist in this process taking account of the needs of our labour market, the impact of the A8 accession and the positions adopted by other EU countries.

Employers and employees will have a duty to abide by the new rules and there will be controls in place for rogue employers and illegal workers, including fixed penalty notices.

Liam Byrne said:

"A bigger Europe is good of Britain and British jobs. We’re a strong supporter of EU enlargement and overwhelming evidence shows that migration from the countries which joined the EU in 2004 has had a positive effect on our economy. But we need to make progress on our immigration reforms and understand the transitional impacts from the last round of accession before we take the next step.

"That is why we have decided to take a gradual approach this time round, taking account of the needs of our labour market, the impact of EU expansion and the positions adopted by other Member States. Workers or employers who are tempted to break the rules should be aware that penalties will be robustly enforced, with fines if necessary. Through this measured response to Accession we will ensure that migration is, and continues to be, managed in the best interests of the country as a whole."

Other elements of the scheme also announced today are:

• an audit of local areas to monitor the effect of EU enlargement / migration on local services with a review led by the Department of Communities and Local Government;
• a consultation process with industry on whether there is a need for similar schemes in other sectors;
• a review of the transitional controls to ensure future access to the labour market is gradual and controlled; and
• a new helpline for employers.