The regulations governing citizens working in another European Union (EU) member state should be adjusted, Spain's employment general secretary Maravillas Rojo has declared.

Ms Rojo wants a general rule put in place that allows such employees to be subject to the labor regulations of the country in which they are working.

Addressing a conference on Free Movement of Workers and Workers' Rights in Oviedo, Spain, she advocated taking the various situations of member states into account and implementing bilateral agreements where relevant to guarantee certain rights.

She explained "it's not a straightforward issue" and "legal loopholes" exist in current legislation that permit firms to opt for legislation in their country of origin to apply rather than tougher standards in nations in which work is taking place.

At the same event, European commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion Laszlo Andor revealed plans to propose new legislation over the next year to modify or replace the current EU directive on the issue.

In a recent report, the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development called on international policies to focus on jobs markets and competition as the world recovers from the economic downturn.