Government to restrict benefits to future EU migrants, says PM David Cameron
New rules on claiming benefits by the EU members are being rushed through the parliament. They will stop new immigrants from the EU immediately claiming them upon arrival to the UK.
The new arrivals from Romania and Bulgaria will have to wait three months to be able to claim benefits. The current law allows migrants to claim them after one month.
The immigrants will also have to prove themselves within six month that they have a realistic chance of employment or the benefits will be stopped.
The government is trying to decrease mass immigration from Eastern Europe. Starting from January 2014, Romanian and Bulgarian citizens will be able to work in Great Britain without restrictions.
Mr Cameron has expressed his worries over the possibility of increased immigration. He said: “The hard-working public are rightly concerned that migrants do not come here to exploit public service and our benefits system.”
Mr Cameron is trying for the new rules to be put in place at the beginning of January. “As part of our long-term plan for the economy, we are taking direct action to fix the welfare and immigration systems so we end the ‘something for nothing’ culture and deliver for people who play by the rules,” he said.
The prime minister believes that the new system will make England a less attractive place to live for EU migrants to live in. He stated: “I want to send a clear message that whilst Britain is very much opened for business, we will not welcome people who don’t want to contribute.”
Mr Cameron’s rushed changes have met criticism from the European Union commissioner, László Andor. He accused the prime minister of acting “irresponsibly” and “legitimising xenophobia”.
Justyna Majewska
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