THE CBI has praised the government's policy on migration, saying ministers have kept the door open to migrant workers while safeguarding the benefits system from abuse.

On May 1, the existing 15 EU states will be joined by Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Migrant workers from these “accession countries” will be able to work legally in the UK, but new rules prevent them claiming benefits for at least two years.

The workers will be expected to support themselves while they look for a job in the UK and they must register once they have found work. The government says that if the UK labour market comes under pressure restrictions will be introduced.

Nigel Bourne, the CBI's South East Regional Director, said: "It is important to recognise that migration makes a huge contribution to the economic well-being of this country, and can go some way to tackling the issue of skills shortage across South East."

The expansion of the European Union will see a further 74.2 million people join the community, bringing the combined population of the 25 states to 450.0 million.

A recent national survey from the Learning and Skills Council found there were about 135,000 unfilled vacancies across Britain because employers could not find people with the necessary skills.

The survey also suggested that one in 10 of the workforce was doing a job for which they were not sufficiently skilled, and more than one in five of South East employers experienced skill gaps.

"Britain must send a clear message to overseas workers that their skills will be welcome here," said Mr Bourne.

"However it is imperative that the migration is sensitively managed. The government has rightly struck a sensible balance between allowing in the workers that the South East economy desperately needs and avoids the dangers of excessive numbers."