Finland will limit the arrival of workers from most new European Union member-states for the next two years. The government accepted the relevant motion in its proposed form on Thursday.

   

During the transitional phase, workers from the new EU member-states will be treated as workers from outside the EU. They will need the employment office's approval that there are not workers in Finland who, within a moderate time, can perform the tasks in question.

   

Job-seekers from Malta and Cyprus are exempt from this rule. There are a few other exceptions to the limitations on the free movement of labour. Those who are in work in Finland on labour permits exceeding 12 months' duration at the time the law comes into force will not be affected.

   

The Finnish Parliament will handle the motion next week. The law is scheduled to become effective from the beginning of May when Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Malta, and Cyprus join the EU.