Dutch to open borders to east Europe workers

...Wednesday.

"The situation on the Dutch labour market is such that free movement of workers from the new member states is desirable," the Social Affairs ministry said in a letter to parliament.

The ministry said accompanying policies to prevent incoming workers competing unfairly with Dutch employees should be in place by then. The upper house of parliament is due to vote on Feb. 27 on a law to fine employers paying under a minimum wage.

Labour inspectors have made agreements with organisations of employers and employees in sectors where workers from the new member states are expected, such as construction and agriculture, the ministry said.

Britain, Ireland and Sweden lifted restrictions on workers from new member states in ex-communist eastern Europe when they joined the block in May 2004. Other old members joined them last May, but the Netherlands took a more gradual approach.

Ten countries joined the EU in 2004. Bulgaria and Romania accession took the bloc to 27 members on January 1 this year, but the Dutch move does not apply to workers from these countries.

Dutch seasonally adjusted unemployment stood at 5.2 percent of the labour force in the final quarter of last year, down from 6.3 percent a year earlier.

[AMSTERDAM/Reuters/Finance.cz]