Business chiefs have admitted that they are as worried about cuts to immigration as they are about trade after Britain leaves the EU.
The CBI insisted ‘reducing immigration is not the answer’ in a call to let European workers enter the UK easily after Brexit.
It claimed uncertainty was already making it harder for firms to recruit and hold on to staff, with some saying they were concerned about not being able to find people with the right skills.
But the lobby group was last night accused of trying to cling on to ‘cheap labour’ from overseas to boost profits.
Official statistics this week which showed there were more EU workers in the UK than ever before.
More than 100,000 new arrivals settled here last year, with the EU workforce reaching its highest-ever total of 2,378,000 in the 12 months to the end of September.
Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, has proposed EU nationals with jobs should be able to come to the UK freely but those who are unemployed would face restrictions
Alp Mehmet, vice chairman of campaign group Migration Watch UK, said: ‘The CBI claims businesses are struggling to recruit and retain European workers following the vote to leave the EU – yet official statistics published only this week showed that there are more EU workers in the UK than ever before.
‘A continued flow of what amounts to cheap labour may contribute to business profits but it most certainly will not lower immigration.’
The comments came after the CBI, which receives funding from Brussels and campaigned against Brexit, said a new immigration system must continue to allow European workers to enter the UK for seasonal work.
In a submission to the Migration Advisory Committee, which is examining what Britain’s ‘social and economic needs’ will be for migration after we leave the EU, the group said employers needed easy access to EU workers but admitted tougher rules were needed to ‘restore public confidence’.
It said: ‘A new system must be designed to allow continued access to the labour businesses need to grow, whilst also demonstrating this is controlled and migrants are arriving because there is a clear economic case for them.’
A new system must be designed to allow continued access to the labour businesses need to grow
Neil Carberry, the group’s managing director for people and infrastructure, added: ‘Business is clear that migration from the EU has created jobs for British nationals, boosted foreign direct investment, and increased the ability for UK firms to export goods and services.
‘Firms must continue to easily be able to move staff to and from Europe under any new system that replaces free movement.’
At present, citizens of European Union countries are allowed to enter the UK without restrictions under freedom of movement rules.
In future, Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, has proposed EU nationals with jobs should be able to come to the UK freely but those who are unemployed would face restrictions.