Bulgaria was disappointed but not angered by Britain's decision to impose labour market restrictions for Bulgarian workers, Labour and Social Policy Minister Emilia Maslarova told UK ambassador in Sofia Jeremy Hill.

Maslarova talked about the results of her recent visit to the UK, Bulgarian National Radio reported.

Britain was aware of the conditions on the Bulgarian labour market and the attitude of Bulgarian workers towards migration to another country, said Maslarova.

Bulgaria should not be seen as a country from where criminals originate, said Maslarova. From nearly 80 000 Bulgarians living in the UK, only nine violated law in some manner, said she.

By the end of the week Bulgaria was going to send an invitation to British officials for the creation of a joint labour market monitoring committee, said Maslarova.

Hill said that such initiatives were going to strengthen the business relations between Bulgaria and the UK. He proposed the launch of a campaign informing Bulgarians of the procedure for receiving permission to work in the UK.