Conservative backbencher Nigel Mills has tabled an interesting amendment to the Immigration Bill, which would prolong restrictions on Romanian and Bulgarian workers until 2018.
It is difficult to see how such a provision, if it remains in the Bill, could be lawful, as it would contradict European law. This much has been recognised by current Immigration Minister Mark Harper and it is immensely unlikely that the amendment will prosper and be included in the final version of the Bill. Consequently, this looks to be more a case of points scoring by the Conservative backbenches in anticipation of the European and national elections.
As you will doubtlessly know, none of the major parties oppose the Bill's big ticket items, such as healthcare charges and obligations for residential landlords, and readers are advised to prepare for whatever changes the Bill has in store for them. I'll summarise what the end of Romanian and Bulgarian restrictions means for employers soon.
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