The number of workers from Poland and other new EU member states has risen by 30% this year as the result of less strict entry criteria, according to figures from the Centre for Work and Income (CWI) published in today’s Volkskrant.

The CWI issued 51,000 permits up to mid-October and says the total for this year could exceed 60,000. A spokeswoman said unemployment has not increased in sectors which attract large numbers of foreign workers. However trade unions say many women and children working in agriculture have lost their jobs.