New EU states boost workforce by 100,000

MORE THAN 100,000 workers from the 10 accession countries have applied for social security numbers since the nations joined the EU last year.

Figures reveal that 104,000 PPS numbers have been issued by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to persons from eastern Europe, Malta and Cyprus up to the end of June.

The numbers arriving have remained steady over the 14 months, although a record number, 11,500, applied last month.