Effect of UK’S foreign workers under scrutiny

THE Home Office has launched an independent review into the impact of EU migrants on the economy, including whether British workers are left at a disadvantage because of cheaper labour from the Continent.

An independent committee, tasked with drawing up the Government’s immigration policy post-brexit, has been asked to look specifically at how EU migrants affect different sectors of the economy, amid suggestions new rules could be made for different industries.

The Migration Advisory Committee will consider whether employing EU nationals leads to under-investment in certain areas of the economy, as well as the benefits and social costs of people from abroad moving to the UK.

Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, said the Government wanted to continue to allow those who “benefit us economically, socially and culturally” to come to Britain to live and work, but reaffirmed a commitment to cut net migration to the tens of thousands.

It marks the start of the Government’s plan for how immigration will be controlled.

However, some critics have warned there is not enough time to implement the policy after it emerged that the committee will only report in Sept 2018.

Ms Rudd said: “Leaving the European Union gives us the opportunity to take control of immigration from the EU.”