Italy and the Czech Republic have informed the European Commission (EC) they will fully apply from Jan 1, 2012 with the EU legislation on the freedom of movement with respect to Romanian and Bulgarian workers. Another nine EU states – the UK, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands and Austria – however notified the EU executive they will keep in place full or partial restrictions against Romanian and Bulgarian labour force until the end of 2013. The United Kingdom was the first to notify the EU, Nov 24, followed by Ireland (Dec 15), Germany (Dec 21), Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and Austria (Dec 22), France and The Netherlands (Dec 23). All the nine EU members concerned offered the European executive explanations grounded in assessments showing the severe impact such access would have on domestic labour market or the danger for such disturbances taking place. According to the same source, although member states don’t require the EC’s authorization to maintain restrictions, Laszlo Andor, the European Commissioner responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, is going to express his viewpoint on the issue and member explanations at an Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council meeting.
Also, the seasonally adjusted November 2011 unemployment rate, calculated according to the criteria of the International Labour Office, was put at 7.3 pc, similar to that the month before and down a mere 0.1 pc year-on-year, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS). Official data show the number of unemployed 25-74 years old accounts for 69.6 pc of all unemployed estimated for Nov 2011. The EU unemployment rate stood at 9.8 pc, and 10.3 pc in the euro zone, both rates similar to that in the month before. At 4 pc and 4.9 pc, Austria, Luxembourg and The Netherlands registered the lowest jobless rates. Spain and Latvia are at the opposite end of the scale, on 22.9 pc and 15.2 pc in Q 3. Romania posted the eighth-lowest unemployment rate EU-wide, according to the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat).
Also, data from National Employment Agency on economic operator job vacancy statements put the number of vacancies at 3,837 during January 6-12, 2012, with the bulk of vacancies in Iasi, Brasov, Cluj, Timis, Bucharest and Harghita, according to a press release. There are 289 vacancies for university graduates, and 3,548 for high and vocational school graduates, and unskilled labourers.
