UK to retain curbs on Romanian, Bulgarian workers

By Avril Ormsby

LONDON (Reuters) - British labour restrictions on Romanian and Bulgarian workers will remain in place, the government announced Thursday.

The economic downturn meant British workers' jobs had to be protected first, it said.

"It is essential that only those we need can come here to work and that is why we have decided to continue restricting the work that Bulgarian and Romanians can do here," said Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas in a statement.

Britain imposed restrictions on work for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens, as EU states can for a several-year transition period, when the two countries joined the European Union last year.

Low-skilled Bulgarians and Romanians may work under a quota system in food processing industries and agriculture, while skilled migrants only get jobs that cannot be filled by residents.

The government made its decision following recommendations by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), an independent body.

It had been asked to look at three options -- removing, relaxing or retaining the current restrictions.

The MAC also advised there should be no increase in the quota of workers for food processing and that no new schemes for other sectors should be set up.