Extension of employment restrictions for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals

Controls to restrict how Bulgarian and Romanian nationals access the UK labour market which have been in place since 1 January 2007 will be extended until the end of 2013. Under European law the current restrictions cannot continue beyond the end of 2013 and will therefore be lifted at that point.

This means Romanian and Bulgarian (A2) nationals seeking to work in the UK may need to apply for permission with the UKBA before they can work here (you can find further information about restrictions on the UKBA website).

The extension of the restrictions does not affect the position of those who have already been authorised to take employment in the UK.

Implementation and effects of Accession regulations for A2 nationals have been criticesed by different groups. They continue to present problems of implementation, are not proven as a policy solution to some of the problems envisaged as a result of Accession, and give rise to confusion among A2 nationals, and injustice against them. This has been highlighted in an analysis of the regulations by Adrian Berry, Barrister at Garden Court Chambers, for the JCWI.