Romanian work permit regime under fire

The Netherlands should remove restrictions on Romanians and Bulgarians who want to take up employment contracts with companies based here, the European Commission said on Thursday.

At the moment all Romanian and Bulgarian citizens have to apply for a work permit to get a job in the Netherlands, but this is in contravention of EU rules, the Commission said in a statement.
‘Any unjustified restriction on the posting of workers between Member States has a snowball effect,’ the commission said. In particular, ‘the work permit regime imposed on posting makes it difficult for certain businesses… to provide services in the Netherlands.’
In addition ‘businesses established in the Netherlands are not free to choose between the various service providers on the European market and hence to obtain the best prices,’ the commission said.
It has given caretaker social affairs minister Piet Hein Donner two months to respond or face possible legal action in the European courts.
The Netherlands imposed the restrictions in 2008. They are due to be lifted in 2012.