The Swiss Federal Council decided on Wednesday (May 28) to extend by two years the temporary restrictions for Romanian and Bulgarian workers.

“The priority to local workers, quotas and control over paying and working conditions are thus maintained,” reads a statement of the Federal Council.

This extension applies until May 31, 2016, under the “protocol II of the Agreement on free movement of persons concluded with the European Union”.

The agreement has been in force since June 1, 2009 and gives Switzerland the right to restrict access to the labour market for seven years for the new entrants. The transition period is divided into three different phases. In the last phase, Switzerland may maintain restrictions in the case of serious disturbances on its labour market.

"The Federal Council decided to keep the restrictions from June 1, 2014, to May 31, 2015, for all workers and service providers from certain economic sectors (landscaping, construction, cleaning and security services)," reads the statement.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com