Switzerland Extends Ban on Bulgarian, Romanian Workers till 2014

Switzerland is likely to keep Bulgarian and Romanian worker quotas till 2016. Photo from hiren.inf

Switzerland's government has extended the duration of its quotas limiting the number on Bulgarians and Romanians wishing to work in the country until at least the end of May, 2014.

Wednesday's announcement comes only four days after quotas were lifted for eight European Union countries which joined the EU in 2004. Bulgaria and Romania became members in 2007.

Switzerland's decision to extend the limit on Bulgarian and Romanian workers comes amidst indications that 10 Western European states want to keep Bulgarians and Romanians out of their labor markets until the last day possible, i.e. 2014.

Both eastern European countries, through their EU membership, have benefited since 2009 from Switzerland's treaty with the EU on the free movement of people, SwissInfo points out. However, a clause in the treaty allows Switzerland to regulate immigration through quotas for up to seven years (or 2+3+2 years). This means, in effect, that the Swiss government could at a later date extend the quota period for Romanians and Bulgarians until May 31, 2016.

Switzerland is not required to provide a justification for the first extension of the restriction period on Bulgarians and Romanians; it will have to do so, should it decide to extend it all the way till 2016.

The quotas in the first year of the transitional phase (2009-2010) were nearly all claimed (about 4,000), and the government said it expected all of the quotas to be used up in the second year.

Around three quarters of the demand is in the hospitality sector (hotels/restaurants). As of December 31, 2010, there were 8,690 Bulgarians and Romanians living in Switzerland.

The strong Swiss currency and the high demand for workers have made Switzerland an attractive destination for laborers; in March, it registered an unemployment rate of only 3.4%.

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