After much equivocation, the Dutch Parliament finally voted, on April 25, the opening, on May 1st, of borders to workers from Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Originally planned for May 1, 2006, the opening of the Dutch labor market to citizens from the new member States was postponed twice, to have time to establish measures aiming a guaranteeing the respect of labor regulations. (Ref. 070383)
Piet Hein Donner, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, insisted on the fact that new delays could have affected relations with the concerned countries, but also hinder economic growth in the Netherlands, where workforce shortages can be felt in several sectors. The left wing parties and the ultra-conservative right’s last reluctances were defeated by a series of measures aiming at preventing exploitation of eastern European workers by Dutch employers. A new €6,700 fine was introduced on Fe
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