Germany's cabinet decided Wednesday to extend restrictions on workers from new EU members of Eastern Europe.
Restrictions for workers from Bulgaria and Romania will be lifted in the beginning of 2012, while lower qualified workers from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which joined the EU in 2004, will not be able to work in Germany until April 30, 2011.
Along with the extended restrictions, Germany eased restrictions on highly qualified labour and could effectively open its borders to Eastern Europeans with university degrees in 2009.
The new rules are due to take effect at the start of next year and still need to be worked into a draft law to be presented to parliament for approval.