The Parliament asked, on October 5th, Henk van Hoof, the Secretary of State for Social affairs and employment, for firm guarantees on the respect of collective labour agreements and minimum wage standards by employers who will hire Poles, from January 2007. That is when the restrictions on the free movement of workers from the new Member States will be lifted. (Ref. 06987)
Deputies fear unfair competition could harm Dutch workers, after the opening of borders to the nationals of the new EU States, on January 1st, 2007. Henk van Hoof rejected the motion proposed by a majority of deputies, saying the labor inspectorate has no means to give such guarantees. Furthermore, the administration cannot impose on local authorities -as it asked by deputies- to undertake the necessary controls. A debate on the opening of borders in January 1st, 2007 -criticized by a majority
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