More than 50,000 workers from Romania and Bulgaria will come to the UK after the countries join the European Union, a think tank has suggested.
The Institute for Public Policy and Research (IPPR) said they should get the same full working rights as eight other Eastern European nations did in 2004.
It estimated 41,000 Romanian and 15,000 Bulgarian workers would arrive in the UK in 2007.
The two countries could join the EU from 1 January next year, but a definite date has not been set. Both countries are confronting issues such as people trafficking, to avoid possible delays.
IPPR associate director Danny Sriskandarajah said: “Romanian and Bulgarian accession should be seen as an opportunity, not a threat.
“Workers from these countries will join an increasingly important Eastern European workforce currently doing hard-to-fill jobs in key sectors and regions.”
http://www.ippr.org.uk/pressreleases/?id=2081
