Javid blasts firms hooked on cheap migrant labour
SAJID Javid yesterday dismissed criticism from business leaders of his plans to curb low- skilled migration from Europe after Brexit.
Employers said the reforms would damage the economy, harm firms and hit living standards by pushing up prices.
But the Home Secretary told them to wean themselves off cheap foreign labour instead.
He wants to end free movement with the EU, making Europeans apply for work visas like citizens from other parts of the world.
He said the system, which will be in place by January 2021, would focus on skilled workers.
‘You don’t need to make it easy for the companies to bring in as much low-skilled labour as they want,’ he added.
‘I’d much rather companies are looking at home first and thinking more about what they can do to help upskill our own young people.
‘If you look at all the major developed economies around the world, outside Europe, they don’t have anything like freedom of movement but they are still able to manage the needs of their economy.’
Carolyn Fairbairn of the Confederation for British Industry insisted the proposals were a wrong turn. ‘ By rejecting the importance of low-skilled workers to the UK economy, the Government risks harming businesses and living standards now and in the future,’ she said.
‘All skill levels matter to the UK economy. These proposals risk worsening labour shortages, already serious in construction, hospitality and care. restricting access to the workers the UK needs is self-defeating.’
Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: ‘The Conservatives are turning their backs on British businesses and public services.
‘Hospitals, care homes, construction firms and other businesses already struggle to hire the workers they need – and these changes will make that problem much worse.
‘They are damaging for British jobs, our economy and the public services we all rely on.’
Under Mr Javid’s proposals, ministers will work with business to establish the level of immigration needed by the economy.
But visa applicants will be required to have a job offer, meet minimum salary thresholds and speak English. There will be ‘temporary’ exemptions for areas of the economy dependent on low-skilled migrants but businesses will be told
to train up British workers. Employers have warned that some sectors such as agriculture rely on EU workers and could struggle if the labour supply dries up.
Senior EU leaders condemned the immigration plan. Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit coordinator, said: ‘We will never accept discrimination based on skills and on nationality.’
Stephen Clarke of the Resolution Foundation, a think-tank that examines income issues, said: ‘Lowpaying sectors with a large share of migrant workers are going to need to rethink not only exactly what they produce but their approach to recruitment, retention and, crucially, automation.
‘More broadly, employers should also up their game on training and bringing harder-to-reach groups, like people with a disability or ill health, into the labour market.’
Lord Green of Deddington, who chairs the MigrationWatch thinktank, said: ‘The public should stand by for a gold rush by employers as they race to fish in an unlimited pool of skilled foreign workers rather than train their own.
‘With immigration adding one million to our population every three years we must get the numbers down. This new system could well add to net migration.’
Theresa May meanwhile has admitted that British tourists may be forced to apply for US- style visa-waiver forms before going on holiday to Europe after Brexit.
Unveiling plans to pre-screen EU tourists as part of her new postBrexit immigration policy, she conceded the arrangements were likely to have to be reciprocal.
Under the scheme, business travellers and tourists would have to secure pre-authorisation at home so Britain can carry out ‘security and criminal record checks’.