Two of Holland's biggest cities will deny tax or social security numbers to Romanians or Bulgarians who fail to pass housing and employment checks
Rotterdam and The Hague are ready to defy the European Union by denying immigrants a national registration number unless they meet stringent checks amid fears of an influx of Romanian and Bulgarians next year.
The municipal authorities in the two cities have warned that they will defy central government by carrying out inspections to make sure EU migrants have honest employment and are not living in overcrowded accommodation.
Those that are living at unsuitable addresses, or do not have a proper job, will be denied a Burger Service Nummer or citizen service number (BSN), meaning they would not be able to work, live or be registered for social security in the Netherlands.
"Officials say we cannot do this according to the law but we are going to do so and the minister must then tell us why it can't be done," Hamit Karakus, an alderman in Rotterdam told the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper.
Under current arrangements, EU migrants are immediately given the BSN number, allowing them to work and register for tax and social security numbers. "We want to reverse the process. First check and only then issue a public service number," said Mr Karakus.
Source The Telegraph