Swiss authorities expand restrictions on number of foreign workers

Poor European workers will not want to look at the inviting Swiss Alps as a potential place of prosperity.

According to BBC News, Switzerland has extended its restrictions on the number of foreign workers for a year starting in May.

Switzerland is not an European Union Member.

They did however sign up to the bloc’s rules on freedom and movement in 1999.

Brussels is not happy.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told the BCC that the quotas violate the freedom of movement agreement.

The Swiss claimed in 99 the right to enact a safeguard clause if workers from certain countries exceed a certain number.

The Swiss government claims the quotas could be enacted in seventeen other European countries.

Flickr Photo by: Chico Boomba

STORY WRITTEN BY: DANIEL J. ROWE