Czech Business Weekly reported that Hungary may be the only Central European country to impose labour market limitations after Bulgaria and Romania join the EU on January 1 2007.

Hungary itself was subjected to similar restrictions in 2004, the report said.

Research issued recently recommended the provision of work places for Bulgarian and Romanian workers only in some economic sectors. Among these were healthcare and food processing, two sectors experiencing shortage of qualified labour hand.

A final decision on the migration curb is to be taken by the end of the year, Czech Business Weekly reported.

EU countries can impose temporary limitations on the migration of workers from newly accepted member states.

Countries that have kept an open door policy after the 2004 enlargement, like the UK, have now decided to limit the migration of Bulgarian and Romanian workers.

Ireland, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium also said they were going to limit the migration of workers from the two countries.