The British government is expected to announce today that it will extend temporary restrictions on the right of Bulgarian and Romanian nationals to work in the UK.
Similar temporary restrictions in place in Ireland are due to be reviewed next year.
The restrictions mean Bulgarians and Romanians are treated differently to other EU nationals coming to work here.
The two countries joined the EU on 1 January, but the work restrictions on their nationals in Ireland and the UK have in effect created a two-tier system in the way in which workers from EU countries are treated.
The restrictions were brought in because of high levels of migration of workers from other eastern European countries on their accession to the EU.
Today's announcement comes after the Work and Pensions Secretary, Peter Hain, admitted that 300,000 more immigrants are working in Britain than had been previously stated.
