Work awaits abroad

The Netherlands will open its labor market to workers from new EU member states on January 1, 2007.

The Dutch Secretary of State for Social Affairs and Employment, Henk van Hoof originally wanted to open the borders for workers on May 1, 2006, when the two-year transition period expires. However, the cabinet decided to push back the date to give the country more time to prepare legislation intended to curb black-market practices, like paying below the minimum wage or undeclared employment. According to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Uneployment, no more than 53,000-63,000 workers from new EU states will migrate to the Netherlands.

Last month French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin stated that France would lift the restrictions on the free movement of labor directed at workers from the eight new Central European member states. He confirmed this during the Polish Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz's visit to France last week. However, the restrictions will be lifted only in certain sectors which will be announced after May 1.

These decisions come after the The European Commission said in a report in February that those countries which had welcomed workers from the eight states have benefited economically, and that the prophecies of huge unemployment or a wave of welfare tourism have proven unfounded.

Starting from April 1, Poles can also work, live and study in Switzerland. Diplomas of Polish universities will also be honored in Switzerland.

Yet the opening of the Swiss market is far from complete. Restrictions remain, as only 1,700 work permits per year will await workers from CEE states. The number will increase to 3,000 by 2010. All restrictions are to be lifted by 2011.