Czechs open labour market to EU newcomers

PRAGUE, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic will open its labour market to workers from Romania and Bulgaria after the Balkan countries join the European Union in January, Labour and Social Affairs Minister Petr Necas said.

The decision, made at a late-night government meeting on Thursday, will allow the government to impose restrictions if the domestic labour market is threatened by an influx of foreign workers.

"There is a safeguard allowing the government to take certain steps in case there are some problems, such as a dramatic impact on the national labour market or some unexpected migration wave," Necas told Reuters.

"But otherwise the Czech Republic will report to the EU that it is allowing free movement for the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania."

The Czechs joined the EU along with nine other mostly ex-communist countries in 2004, and they themselves face restrictions on work in a number of the richer member states in Western Europe.

The Czechs earn much less than workers in Western Europe.

But they need workers to fill low-skilled jobs which few Czechs are willing to take, with unemployment falling because of robust, 5-6 percent annual economic growth.

Finland, Estonia, Poland and Slovakia have said they would adopt an "open-door" policy towards the two future new members. The United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain and some other countries have said they would impose temporary restrictions. ((Reporting by Jan Korselt; Writing by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Sonia Oxley; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420-224 190 474))

Keywords: EU CZECH/NEWCOMERS