Unions slam decision to restrict number of Bulgarian and Romanian migrants entering UK to work

Unions have slammed the government’s decision to keep restrictions on the number of Bulgarian and Romanian migrants entering the UK to work.
 
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended that the current work restrictions should be retained because of the tough economic climate.
 
The MAC said: “In this time of economic downturn it was sensible to make recommendations which would avoid any negative impacts on the current UK workforce.”
 
But TUC chief Brendan Barber warned that banning Bulgarian and Romanian workers while allowing the self-employed in would simply lead to more ‘bogus self-employment’ and exploitation of workers.
 
Construction union Ucatt said the ban made workers highly vulnerable to exploitation, especially in the casualised construction industry.
 
General secretary Alan Ritchie said: “I am disappointed that the government has decided not to grant these workers full employment rights. Sadly that will mean that workers will continue to be exploited.”