Illegal workers remain illegal after EU membership

In theory citizens of the European Union should be able to live and work in any European country of their choosing. But the practice is quite different. The hundreds of thousands from new member states already working illegally in Western Europe will remain illegal - in most of Western Europe. Kerry Skyring spoke to Antonio Cruz of the Brussels based publication Migration Europe.

Photo: European Commission

"It really depends on which country they are in. There are three countries where things will change, Ireland, the UK and lastly Sweden because the Swedish parliament voted a few days ago against the government's bill of restrictions. So as things stand now at this present time, very surprisingly Sweden is the only EU country where the nationals of the eight Central European countries have complete freedom of movement as opposed to Ireland and the UK where they do have freedom of movement but with some restrictions regarding social security rights."

And would it be naive to believe that countries where people are working illegally now are likely to offer some sort of amnesty?

"It is now way considered a priority, no."

If we were to take Austria as an example, such a worker would have to get a work permit through their employer who goes to the relevant government department. To what extent will they be successful if they take that approach?

"They won't be very successful because it is very restricting, the law in Austria, but if you're referring to other countries, the nationals of these countries, since the signing of the association agreements, they have the right, perhaps they don't have the right to free movement to work as salaried workers, but they have had the right of establishment for many years already, which means a plumber, even a professional cleaner from one of these new member states, can come and work as a self employed worker and establish a business."

The motive for people to come from Poland and other Central European countries to come to Western European countries is still there. In your view will many continue to work on the black market?

Photo: European Commission

"I think the bulk of those who are ready to expatriate themselves and work abroad, are already there because no one likes leaving ones family behind and working all alone in a foreign country. All of these countries do not have a tradition of being migrant workers with perhaps the exception of Poland. I think the bulk of those who are going to leave have already left. They have been working in the black economy for years."

And they will continue to do that?

"Exactly they will continue to do that. Perhaps the fact that their countries are now members of the European Union, many others will be encouraged to do the same thing - thinking that in the worst case scenario they will probably be caught for working illegally, sent back to their home country and then they will try again."