Swiss allow Croatian workers access despite vote for immigration curb

Switzerland will grant workers from Croatia access to its labour market in a bid to kickstart treaty negotiations with the European Union that were frozen after Swiss voters approved curbs on immigration, Reuters reported. Free movement of people and jobs within its borders is one of the fundamental policies of the EU, and Switzerland, while not a member of the 28-nation bloc despite being a major trading partner, has participated under a pact with Brussels. Wednesday's move by the Swiss govenment is part of planned measures aimed at limiting any EU backlash including on issues such as power supply, research and education. "Today's decisions demonstrate that the Federal Council is pursuing its strategy to push ahead with and coordinate current and future negotiations on various European policy dossiers to achieve the best possible outcome for Switzerland," the government said in a statement. Croatians, the newest EU members, were to have access to the Swiss jobs market from July and that timing will reinstated under a separate quota system, the Swiss government said.