Bulgarians, Romanians Kicked Out of Dutch Labor Market

Bulgarians and Romanians, as well as foreigners from outside the EU, will now only be granted a work permit in the Netherlands under "exceptional cases."

The Dutch lawmakers passed the measure, brainchild of Social Affairs Minister Henk Kamp, despite EU official's warnings that it might harm the freedom of movement, one of EU's fundamental freedoms.

EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Laszlo Andor, has already stated that restricting the free movement of Bulgarians and Romanians harms the good functioning of the bloc's common market.

The Netherlands is one of the ten EU member states that have kept job restrictions on citizens of the two countries that joined the EU in 2007. Belgium, Germany, Ireland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, the UK and Malta.

Starting January 1 2014, Bulgarians and Romanians will be free to work in all of the bloc's member states.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!