Listening to the BBC this morning I was extremely pleased to hear that the UK is starting to grow some balls and stop the new members countris of the EU from invading and taking all of the jobs.
I looked into working back home a few months ago and questioned a few friends out there about what life was like on the job hunting front. Apparantely since Poland has been given freedom to enter the UK jobs have been snapped up by eastern Europeans willing to work for mininum wage.
Not good.
Every time they EU let's on of these poor underdeveloped countries joins it is slowly crippling itself.
Currently there is a serious drought of skilled labourers in Poland since they have all pissed off to where the money is, which is fair enough.
Hopefully the UK will be able to stick by its' guns and limit the influx of the latest member states Romania and Hungary.
I can see that the immigrants will do the jobs that the dole bluggers won't but they must also be reducing the opportunity of fresh graduates and experienced workers since companies can now hire graduates and experienced workers for less.
BBC article below.
Last Updated: Wednesday, 25 October 2006, 12:03 GMT 13:03 UK![]()
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Viewpoints: EU migration curbs
Limits will be set on the numbers of migrants coming to the UK from Hungary and Romania, Home Secretary John Reid says. His decision to introduce restrictions on the EU's newest members has provoked strong responses.
BRENDAN BARBER, TRADES UNION CONGRESS
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has generally welcomed immigration from the newer EU states, and he says the latest Home Office plans could worsen working conditions for immigrants.
The UK government cannot stop the free movement of new EU citizens, nor can it prevent them working as self-employed once they are here.
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More should be done to crack down on rogue employers
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber
Bogus self-employment and cash-in-hand jobs are two of the commonest ways that workers are exploited in the UK.
Undercutting legal rights such as the minimum wage drives down wages and conditions for all workers, and leads to tax evasion by both workers and their bosses.
The right response to EU enlargement is properly enforced rights that prevent the exploitation of anyone working in the UK - not measures that are more likely to increase the bad treatment of workers.
While we welcome the recognition in [the Home Office] statement that more should be done to crack down on rogue employers, they are neither broad nor effective enough to lift standards.
SUSAN ANDERSON, CONFEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRY
The CBI has previously opposed any attempts to cap migration. But Susan Anderson, CBI director of human resources policy, says she welcomes the government's decision.
Migrant labour is vital to the UK. Recent migrant workers from central Europe have brought with them much-needed skills and hard work, to the benefit of our economy.
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Businesses with a provable need for skilled migrant workers will still be able to hire staff from Romania and Bulgaria
CBI director of human resources policy Susan Anderson
The number of these workers coming to the UK has far exceeded expectations, though, so it is right to take a measured approach and apply temporary restrictions on Romania and Bulgaria.
An annual review of its policy will allow the government to monitor the emerging effects of migration on the labour market and on public services, and make changes as needed.
Under the government's plans, businesses with a provable need for skilled migrant workers will still be able to hire staff from Romania and Bulgaria, and sectors that are heavily reliant on seasonal migrant workers will be able to source unskilled labour.
CATHERINE DREW, INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH
The left-leaning think-tank believes the curbs will not stop Bulgarians and Romanians from coming to the UK and working illegally.
Catherine Drew, the IPPR's migration specialist, says John Reid's decision is politically motivated.
The policy they've announced is not an admission the government got it wrong last time around.
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Public opinion has swayed against immigration
IPPR migration specialist Catherine Drew
There is plenty of evidence that the UK has benefited enormously from workers from the eight Eastern European nations which joined in 2004.
This is above all a political decision. If it had been left alone to economic evidence then Bulgarian and Romanian workers would be allowed to come.
But because the numbers of workers who have come in the past two years are so different to what they estimated, and public opinion has swayed against immigration, that is why the decision has been made.
RUTH LEA, CENTRE FOR POLICY STUDIES
The right-leaning think-tank questions the wisdom of unfettered immigration. CPS director Ruth Lea says she sympathises with what John Reid is trying to achieve.
When there was full employment, I think people were generally quite relaxed about immigration from central Europe.
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If they come here and can't get work, they may well just go straight back home
CPS director Ruth Lea
The problem is that unemployment is rising and inflation is picking up. We might be facing a period of economic slow-down.
With this as a background, you may well want to restrict immigrants from coming into the country.
Although I sympathise with what he is trying to do, I can't see how John Reid can stop people from coming in. These countries will be full members of the EU and have a right to freedom of movement.
But if they come here and can't get work, they may well just go straight back home - so in that respect, market forces might just solve the problem for us.![]()



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The UK government cannot stop the free movement of new EU citizens, nor can it prevent them working as self-employed once they are here.
More should be done to crack down on rogue employers 

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