Polish and citizens of another seven new Central and Eastern European states can now freely work in five sectors of the Dutch economy.

1 June 2006

AMSTERDAM - Five sectors of the Dutch economy are being opened up to expats from the eight Central and Eastern Europe states that joined the European Union in 2004.

The Dutch Social Affairs Ministry announced on Wednesday that from 1 June workers from these countries will not have to obtain a work permit to take employment in the agriculture sector, inland shipping, abattoirs, fish processing, scientific research and light engineering.

The five sectors are the first to be opened up to workers from Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic because of an actual or threatened shortage of Dutch workers.

Ahead of the opening of the borders for all sectors from 1 January next year, junior minister Henk Van Hoof is looking at quick access for nationals of the new EU states sector by sector.

Polish nationals are by far the largest group of workers from the eight new EU states in the Netherlands. 

The Netherlands and several other states restricted access to their labour markets in 2004 amid fears of mass migration by workers from the eight states. No such restrictions were imposed on citizens of Malta and Cyprus, the other two new EU members.

Dutch employers groups VNO-NCW and MKB-Nederland said Van Hoof opened up more sectors of the economy.

The trade union movement supports allowing Poles and other new EU citizens to work in the Netherlands, but only on condition they receive equal pay and rights as their Dutch counterparts. There have been complaints that Dutch workers have been laid off in favour of cheaper migrant labour.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2006]

Subject: Dutch news