A new draft affecting workers temporarily sent to other EU countries is causing controversy between eastern and western member states, according to Euractiv.

The new compromise bill, drafted by Malta, has explicitly referenced transport workers. However, opposing countries have argued that it is too hard to apply national employment law to truck drivers who pass through a country. The new draft also states that employers who send workers to other EU countries will also have to make sure their workers’ accommodation meets local standard conditions. The new bill has caused further divide among the EU member states.

Last year, the European Commission proposed a revision vetoed ‘yellow cards’ from 11 countries that tried to block the changes last summer on grounds that it would harm the internal market. The rules allow workers to be sent temporarily to another EU country but still pay social contributions in their home countries.

A group of countries including Poland, Romania and Hungary has opposed any legal changes to 21-year-old posted workers rules and called western EU member states protectionist for pushing measures to raise pay for workers from lower wage countries.

Another meeting is set for Monday, 27 March in Malta that will discuss the draft bill. If there is still contention among the countries, then the issue will be handed over to ambassadors.