Firms ‘should pay £6k fee for every foreign worker hired’

PLUMBERS, bricklayers and electricians from Europe should only be allowed to work here for up to three years after Brexit, a report says.

Think-tank MigrationWatch has suggested ministers introduce a so-called ‘brickie visa’ to plug labour shortages after Britain quits the EU.

Experts have warned that introducing work permits would ‘sharply cut back’ the number of migrants – many from Poland and Romania.

Firms would be forced to pay a fee, thought to be around £6,000, for each foreign worker in a bid to wean them off cheap foreign labour. But the report, published today, calls for ‘light-touch’ visa-free travel for millions of visitors, businessmen and tourists.

Alp Mehmet, vice-chairman of the thinktank, said: ‘The scheme we have outlined would not only control but also reduce immigration, as the public wants.’

Employers have warned that some sectors of the economy, such as construction, agriculture and horticulture, rely heavily on EU workers and could struggle if the labour supply dries up.

MigrationWatch said the claims were exaggerated but acknowledged there should be a ‘transitional period’ to allow firms to train UK replacements.