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Work restrictions will continue for Bulgarians and Romanians

18 December 2008

Bulgarians and Romanians will not get free access to the British labour market, the government announced today.

The decision, which follows advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), ensures that the interests of British workers are protected, and that those migrant workers who can come here to work are the people we need – and no more. 

Access to British jobs for Bulgarians and Romanians has been restricted since they joined the European Union in January 2007. This means that skilled and highly skilled workers the country needs have been able to come here to work, but access to low-skilled jobs has been restricted to the seasonal agricultural workers scheme (SAWS) and the sector-based scheme (SBS) for food processing. 

Today’s decision to keep restrictions in place means that the UK can continue to benefit from the positive economic contribution Bulgarian and Romanian workers make, but the government can monitor the impacts of their accession on the labour market and the country as a whole.  

Home Office minister's statement

Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:  'It is essential that only those we need can come here to work and that is why we have decided to continue restricting the work that Bulgarian and Romanians can do here. 

'This is a prudent decision that will ensure the UK continues to benefit from the positive economic contribution Bulgarian and Romanian workers make, while protecting British workers and making sure the numbers coming here are managed in the national interest. 

'We have already suspended tier three of the points based system to stop low skilled migrants from outside the European economic area entering the UK.'

More seasonal agricultural workers allowed

As part of today’s announcement the Home Office increased the quota for the seasonal agricultural workers scheme, following advice from the MAC, which identified shortages in the agricultural industry. The scheme enables A2 workers to fill gaps in farming and related work.  

From 2009, the number of Bulgarians and Romanians admitted under the scheme will increase from 16,250 places to 21,250. This will ensure that where migrants are needed to fill gaps in the industry, businesses are able to recruit them.

The quota for the sector-based scheme for food processing – which is restricted to Romanian and Bulgarian workers – will remain at 3,500. 

National Farmers’ Union horticulture board chairman Richard Hirst said, 'We welcome the announcement by the Home Office that there will be an increase in the number of SAWS permits.

'The decision reflects the compelling evidence put by the industry that there is insufficient seasonal labour to pick and harvest crops.'

Notes to editors

• Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU on 1 January 2007. As members of the EU, nationals of the two countries have rights of free movement across all other member states. Visa restrictions on the two countries for entering the UK were lifted at midnight on New Year's Eve 2006.
• Work restrictions remain in place for the two countries’ nationals. Those found to be working outside the rules – and their employers - can face prosecution, with the option to pay a fixed penalty to avoid this. These restrictions will be reviewed again at the end of 2009.
• There continues to be access for skilled and highly skilled Bulgarian and Romanian migrants. Access to lower skilled workers, however, is quota limited and restricted to limited schemes.
• Bulgarian and Romanian nationals exercising a treaty right in the UK may seek a registration certificate. This includes students, the self-employed, self-sufficient individuals and Bulgarian and Romanian family members of these main applicants.
• The sector-based scheme (SBS) for food processing will be maintained at 3,500 and is restricted to Romanian and Bulgarian workers.  
• The seasonal agricultural workers scheme (SAWS) quota will increase from 16,250 to 21,250 and will remain restricted to Romanian and Bulgarian workers.
• The UK is one of a number of EU countries that have put in place restrictions on access to the domestic labour market for workers from accession countries.

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