Netherlands Labor Market to Remain Closed for Bulgarians over Financial Crisis

Politics » BULGARIA IN EU | November 26, 2008, Wednesday // 00:00

Most of the Members of Netherlands' Parliament want to extend the limited access of Bulgarians and Romanians to the country's labor market for three more years, Radio Netherlands reported Wednesday.

Both parties from the governing coalition - the Labor Party and the Christian Democratic Party - oppose the suggestion of the Minister of Social Affairs Piet Hein Donner that the Dutch labor market be opened to Bulgarian and Romanian citizens on July 1, 2009.

The effects of the global financial crisis and the housing shortage are the main motives of the Dutch MPs for wanting to continue to restrict the access of Bulgarian and Romanian workers to jobs in the Netherlands.

The measure is also supported by the Socialist Party, the Conservative VVD and far-right Freedom Party PVV.

The first transitional period, in which EU member states could limit the access of Bulgarian and Romanian citizens to their labor markets after the two states joined the Union on January 1, 2007, expires on January 1, 2009.

After that each individual EU member could decide to extend the ban for three more years - until January 1, 2012, when a second extension of the labor restrictions for a two-year period is also allowed.

During the transitional periods Bulgarians and Romanians are allowed to hold jobs in the respective EU member states only after being approved for a special permit.

Last Monday the Dutch Social Affairs Minister Piet Hein Donner already announced that Bulgarian and Romanian citizens would have to continue to apply for permits to work in the Netherlands until July 1, 2009.

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