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Eastern European UK workers grow Eastern European UK workers grow
(20 minutes later)
Almost 8,000 Romanian and Bulgarian workers registered to work in the UK in the three months since their countries joined the European Union.Almost 8,000 Romanian and Bulgarian workers registered to work in the UK in the three months since their countries joined the European Union.
The Home Office says that a further 49,000 workers from eight other Eastern European countries already in the EU also applied to work in the UK. The Home Office added that a further 49,000 workers from eight other Eastern European countries, which are already in the EU, applied to work in the UK.
More than 630,000 workers from Eastern Europe have sought work in the UK since the EU expanded in May 2004.More than 630,000 workers from Eastern Europe have sought work in the UK since the EU expanded in May 2004.
The government has restricted rights for Bulgarian and Romanian workers.The government has restricted rights for Bulgarian and Romanian workers.
Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union in January 2007 - but the government decided not to allow its workers free access to the British labour market.
The UK was one of the only countries to allow free access to its labour market for the eight European nations including Poland that joined in May 2004.
New members
According to the government's figures, between January and March 7,935 workers from Romania and Bulgaria were granted permission to arrive.
Some 5,075 were allowed to apply directly for jobs, 2,660 registered as self-employed and 2,425 arrived as seasonal farm workers. Two hundred who arrived said they were self-sufficient.
Half of the applicants were between 25 and 34 years old. Six out of every 10 applicants came from Romania. Almost a third of the workers went into the entertainment and leisure industry.