Switzerland could open labor market gates to almost 4,000 Romanians and Bulgarians starting June 1

Almost 4,000 Romanians and Bulgarians could work in Switzerland starting with June 1 this year, following an approval of annual short and long term work permits for the period 2009 – 2016, Romania's Labor Ministry announced yesterday.

A first transition stage will last until June 1, 2016 and features restrictions regarding employment rights in Switzerland. This means that a Swiss employer can only hire a Romanian or a Bulgarian if he failed to find a Swiss citizen or other citizen of the European Union for the job. Contingencies will be established on an annual basis.

According to the federal migration bureau in Switzerland, some 362 long-term permits that are prolonged annually and 3,620 short term permits prolonged only in exceptional cases were approved for 2009.

The second transition stage will take place between 2016 and 2019 and will apply a special protection clause which will allow the reintroduction of contingencies and the reduction of residence permits if the migration inflows are too high.

Romanians will have free access on the Swiss labor market in 2019 the latest, according to the ministry release.

Switzerland’s ambassador to the EU, Jacques de Watteville, told NewsIn yesterday that the government will take into account the opinion of the voters who said no at the recent referendum and will hike work controls by 20 percent, especially in constructions and hotels.

Also, the Swiss justice minister said two days ago that the referendum to prolong the accords with the EU from 2002 and extend them allowing access on the labor market to Romanians and Bulgarians, the recent newcomers to the bloc, was controversial. Many citizens are worried about the effects on the labor market, she said.

NewsIn