The number of Bulgarian and Romanian workers registered in the UK increased by less than 3% to a total of 28,580 over the past year, new figures show.
The latest official figures for net migration to Britain have showed an increase of 15,000 in the past year to 182,000, The Guardian informs.
Prime Minister David Cameron wants to get this figure below 100,000 before the next election in 2015.
The Office for National Statistics believes increase was fuelled by a fall in emigration from Britain to the lowest level since 2001 and a rise in migrants coming to work from Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece.
The ONS net migration figure is made up of 503,000 people who came to live and work in Britain for more than 12 months in the year to June 2013, compared with 517,000 the previous year. Meanwhile 320,000 people left the UK - down from 349,000 the previous year.
Controversial claims have been made by a number of British tabloids and politicians that the UK should brace for a massive"influx" of Bulgarian and Romanian migrants after the end of 2013. It has been claimed that lifting the restriction would "put pressure" on housing, infrastructure, schools, and heath care.