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Job Seekers
UK and Enlargement
Britain has always been a strong supporter of the enlargement
of the EU. We view enlargement as a way of extending peace and
stability across the continent, and of increasing prosperity
across the Union.
Free Movement of Workers
Britain is one of the few EU Member States which has decided
to allow nationals of Hungary and the other the new member states
to work in the country immediately after the date of accession.
We have reciprocal agreements with the accession states to allow
UK workers to work there too. This will be one of the first real
and tangible benefits of the enlargement project, for citizens
of current and new member states. This policy has not changed.
The UK has decided to allow people from the accession states
to work in the UK immediately after accession because there are
social and economic benefits to them and to the UK in doing so,
including filling the many vacancies in our economy. Our flexible
labour market is the key driver of a successful economy. We
will therefore welcome workers coming to the UK who are able
to contribute to our economy and our society. By opening
up our labour market, the UK is ensuring that those who go to
the UK to work will do legally rather than illegally - paying
tax and national insurance rather than working in the black economy.
Free Movement of Travel and Benefits Shopping
Recently, there has been a wave of press articles in the UK predicting
massive flows of migrants from the accession states, with an
implication that many would only come for the benefits. We do
not believe this is true, nor are we going to be panicked by
unfounded scare stories into abandoning a policy which will help
the economy, which is supported by UK business and UK workers,
and which is an integral part of our balanced migration policy
- supporting managed, legal migration whilst robustly defending
illegal working and abuse of public services.
Opening up the labour market is not the same as "opening
our borders". In fact, from 1 May 2004, nationals from
all accession states, including Hungary, will have the right
to free movement of travel in all EU Members States. And
all Member States are required to provide nationals from other
member states the same access to benefits as our own nationals.
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Like every Member State the UK has its own system for determining
eligibility for social benefits. The requirements in the UK are
very stringent, and all applicants regardless of origin must
be able to demonstrate strong ties to the UK, e.g. having lived
in the UK for an extended period of time, or family ties to the
UK. Simply put, no new arrival qualifies for benefits.
Those coming for the purpose of obtaining benefits will be sorely
disappointed.
The underlying principle of the requirements is that UK taxpayers
should not have to subsidise people with tenuous links to the
UK who have gone there with the prime aim of claiming social
benefits which might be higher than at home. The UK requirements
are strict and are designed to ensure that people can go to the
UK to work, but not just to claim benefits.
The message is clear: We will welcome workers coming to the
UK who are able to contribute to our economy and our society
and who have a job to go to. But others, without work or who
are unable to support themselves, will not be welcome. Those
thinking of coming to the UK in search of benefits should not
make the journey.
We are confident that our requirements are a robust and effective
deterrent against attempts to abuse the system. But as the Prime
Minister made clear yesterday in the UK Parliament, the requirements
are under constant review to ensure they are as tough as possible.
Press reports that the Prime Minister indicated the UK
would be withdrawing the right of accession state nationals to
work freely in the UK are wrong. But the British Government does
have the power granted to it by Parliament immediately to withdraw
this concession should there be any evidence of abuse of the
system. The British Government has made clear that this power
will be used if there is evidence of benefits seekers are attempting
to abuse the freedom to work as a means of applying for benefits.
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