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Reid outlines new EU work curbs Reid outlines new EU work curbs
(about 1 hour later)
Limits on Bulgarians' and Romanians' right to work in the UK have been unveiled by Home Secretary John Reid.Limits on Bulgarians' and Romanians' right to work in the UK have been unveiled by Home Secretary John Reid.
The only unskilled working allowed will be in food processing and agriculture.The only unskilled working allowed will be in food processing and agriculture.
The countries join the EU in January and Mr Reid is keen to avoid the large influx seen from the eight ex-communist states which joined the EU in 2004.The countries join the EU in January and Mr Reid is keen to avoid the large influx seen from the eight ex-communist states which joined the EU in 2004.
EU rules mean Romanians and Bulgarians will be free to live in the UK, and to take any job if self-employed. Critics say the plans are unworkable.EU rules mean Romanians and Bulgarians will be free to live in the UK, and to take any job if self-employed. Critics say the plans are unworkable.
The curbs contrast with the "open-door" policy when the eight former communist states joined in 2004. The curbs contrast with the "open-door" policy adopted in 2004, when 15,000 migrant workers were expected to arrive each year. Instead 600,000 arrived in two years.
WHO CAN WORK IN UK? Anyone self-employedHighly skilled migrantsSkilled migrants with work permitsStudentsFood and agriculture workers Q&A: UK and new EU states John Reid's statementWHO CAN WORK IN UK? Anyone self-employedHighly skilled migrantsSkilled migrants with work permitsStudentsFood and agriculture workers Q&A: UK and new EU states John Reid's statement
At that time the Home Office expected about 15,000 migrant workers a year - but 600,000 arrived in two years. In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Reid said the policy had been a success because migrant workers had filled skills gaps.
In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Reid said the open-door policy had been a success because migrant workers had filled skills gaps.
But he acknowledged some schools had had to cope with a "significant rise" in pupils, while some councils had reported overcrowding in private housing.But he acknowledged some schools had had to cope with a "significant rise" in pupils, while some councils had reported overcrowding in private housing.
'Loophole' The new policy will be reviewed annually. Mr Reid said policing it would be challenging, but those caught working illegally would face on-the-spot fines, with hefty penalties for their employers.
The policy for Bulgaria and Romania is to be reviewed annually, with ministers saying they will listen to industries if they feel they need more manual workers. But shadow home secretary David Davis said allowing any EU citizen to work in the UK if they are self-employed was a "big loophole" and said there was no way of stopping "undesirables" living in the UK.
As part of the changes, from January, all low-skilled migration schemes for non-EU workers will be phased out. It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept for Bulgaria Bulgarian minister Meglena Kuneva href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5377332.stm" class="">Leaving Bulgaria for UK? href="/1/hi/world/europe/5380978.stm" class="">Romania to lose workers href="/1/hi/education/6081184.stm" class="">More help for schools
Shadow home secretary David Davis described the fact that anyone from Romania and Bulgaria can work in the UK if they are self-employed as a "big loophole". Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg questioned whether the policy was possible to police.
It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept for Bulgaria Bulgarian minister Meglena Kuneva href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5377332.stm" class="">Leaving Bulgaria for UK? href="/1/hi/world/europe/5380978.stm" class="">Romania to lose workers Both the Tories and Lib Dems raised concerns that the policy would simply push more people into working illegally.
He also raised concern about the possibility of people working in the "black economy" and not paying tax. And there was no way of stopping "undesirables" living in the UK. Lobby group Migrationwatch chairman Sir Andrew Green said the curbs were "a tiny step forward", while UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage MEP, described them as "too little too late" and unenforceable.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said a transitional arrangement was appropriate but there were "real concerns about how this will work in practice". Ex-Labour minister Frank Field, said "the government is slowly moving to a new position" but he thought the restrictions did not go far enough.
Lobby group Migrationwatch welcomed the restrictions, with chairman Sir Andrew Green saying: "This is not a U-turn but it is a turning point." However Labour's former Europe Minister Keith Vaz said the measures were "a real blow" to Britain's reputation as a champion of EU enlargement.
He added that the curbs were a "tiny step forward".
Ex-Labour minister Frank Field, said he thought the restrictions did not go far enough.
"Within a 16-month period something like 600,000 Poles, for example, come to this country and in total we get new arrivals of 1.3m people," he said.
"In the long run those numbers are not sustainable. And the government is slowly moving to a new position."
Bulgarian minister Meglena Kuneva predicted on BBC News 24 that about 36,000 people would want to move to Britain from Bulgaria.Bulgarian minister Meglena Kuneva predicted on BBC News 24 that about 36,000 people would want to move to Britain from Bulgaria.
She called the UK's previous policy "very brave and very right", adding: "It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept [for Bulgaria]".She called the UK's previous policy "very brave and very right", adding: "It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept [for Bulgaria]".
But Raduta Matache, the acting Romanian ambassador to the UK, said the restrictions were "more generous" than they had been expecting. Raduta Matache, the acting Romanian ambassador to the UK, said most Romanians were more likely to look for work in Italy or Spain.
"I do believe that fears about Romanians swamping Britain are totally unfounded," she told the BBC.