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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.
He said the only unskilled jobs they could take initially 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. The curbs contrast with the "open door" policy when another eight former communist states joined 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 Mr Reid's plans are unworkable.
The curbs contrast with the "open door" policy when another eight former communist states joined in 2004.
WHO CAN WORK IN UK? Anyone self-employedHighly skilled migrantsSkilled migrants with work permitsStudentsFood and agriculture workers Q&A: UK and new EU states
At that time the Home Office expected about 15,000 migrant workers a year - but 600,000 arrived in two years.At that time the Home Office expected about 15,000 migrant workers a year - but 600,000 arrived in two years.
"We will manage this process gradually and we will attempt to achieve the balance between the needs of our economy and taking opportunities where there is a shortage of skilled labour," Mr Reid said. Mr Reid said the government would try to balance the needs of the economy and the challenges large scale immigration can cause the housing, education and health services.
We all want to be clear that anything that is proposed is workable and effective Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett href="/1/hi/world/europe/2266385.stm" class="">Q&A: EU enlargement In a written statement to Parliament he said the open door policy in 2004 had been a success because migrant workers had filled skills gaps.
He said the policy would be reviewed, if other industries felt they would benefit from more manual workers. But he acknowledged some schools had to cope with a "significant rise" in pupils, while some councils had reported overcrowding in private housing.
'Loophole'
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.
As part of the changes, from January, all low-skilled migration schemes for non-EU workers will be phased out.As part of the changes, from January, all low-skilled migration schemes for non-EU workers will be phased out.
Controls are to remain in place for a "transitional period" and a committee would be set up to look at how low-skilled quotas are managed, Mr Reid said in a written statement to Parliament. Shadow home secretary David Davis described the fact that anyone can work in the UK if they are self-employed as a "big loophole" which he was surprised the government had not tried to close.
Black economy It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept for Bulgaria Bularian 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
The statement makes clear that the UK is not allowed to place any restrictions on Romanians or Bulgarians who want to be self-employed within the UK. 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.
Mr Reid denied "bulldozing" through concerns from the Foreign Office about the impact curbs might have on Britain's relations with new EU states. Ex-Labour minister Frank Field, said he thought the restrictions did not go far enough.
It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept Meglena KunevaBulgarian minister href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5377332.stm" class="">Leaving Bulgaria for UK? href="/1/hi/world/europe/5380978.stm" class="">Romania to lose workers "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.
Everyone who is a citizen of an EU country is allowed to travel and live wherever they want to within member states. "In the long run those numbers are not sustainable. And the government is slowly moving to a new position."
But when new members join, the EU's existing members are allowed to impose restrictions on the new EU citizens' right to work - and right to benefits - for up to seven years.
Some opponents of curbs warn that Romanian and Bulgarian migrants may be forced into the black economy if they are allowed to travel and live in the UK, but not allowed to work.
'Serious concern'
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 described the UK's policy in 2004 as "very brave and very right" adding: "It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept [for Bulgaria]".She described the UK's policy in 2004 as "very brave and very right" adding: "It's a little a bit strange why this policy isn't kept [for Bulgaria]".
And Raduta Matache, the acting Romanian ambassador to the UK, said she would have expected Britain to grant the same "non-discriminatory treatment" to Romanians, that had been given to Polish workers. But Raduta Matache, the acting Romanian ambassador to the UK, said the restrictions were "more generous" than they had been expecting.
But Sir Andrew Green, of pressure group Migrationwatch, told the BBC the UK was already taking a "huge level" of immigration - and the government's plans marked a "turning point".
"It will be the first time the government has acknowledged the really serious concern throughout Britain about the scale of all this," he said.