UK home secretary John Reid presented measures that would limit the access of Bulgarian and Romanian workers to the UK labour market.

These measures come in contrast to the open door policy Britain decided to keep after the accession of 10 countries to the EU in 2004, BBC reported.

Though Britain expected 15 000 migrant workers from Eastern Europe in 2004, their number reached 600 000, BBC reported. UK officials said they were concerned that the free movement of Bulgarian and Romanian workers would take away jobs from local labourers.

"It will be the first time the government has acknowledged the really serious concern throughout Britain about the scale of all this", pressure group Migration Watch representative Sir Andrew Green said.

Food processing and agriculture would be the only two sectors open for unskilled workers from the two countries once Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU.

Bulgaria's European Integration Minister Meglena Kouneva said that previously Britain decided to carry out brave and adequate policies and that she was disappointed with the change.

BBC reported that citizens of EU member states enjoyed freedom of movement but some restrictions could be imposed on the work right of citizens from new union members. Such restrictions are valid for up to seven years.