Manufacturers need reassuring over European workers rights

EEF, a manufacturing trade body, has been informed about a recruitment crunch if manufacturers are unable to hire EU workers after Brexit.

The organisation, with offices in London, has said the government must clarify EU workers their rights “as a matter of urgency”.

However speaking to the BBC, a government spokesperson said: “We have already been clear there will be an implementation period after we leave the EU to avoid a cliff edge for businesses.

“In June, we published our offer to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK, confirming no-one living here lawfully will be asked to leave when we exit the EU… They will have a period to regularise their status.”

A quarter of 243 firms surveyed by EEF have seen a huge increase in EU nationals leaving such businesses. Two thirds of these firms hire EU workers because many UK applicants do not apply.

Tim Thomas, EEF’s director of employment and skills, commented: “EU workers could stifle growth and damage the UK economy as a whole” if the manufacturing industry was prevented from recruiting potential European employees.

He continued: “As a priority, the government should clarify the reciprocal rights of EU nationals in the UK and British nationals currently working in other EU member states.”

The EEF’s surveys reflected that of recent data showing net migration had fallen to its lowest level for three years after a rise in EU nationals leaving the UK since the referendum in June 2016.

The organisation is calling for European employees to be able to come and work in the UK for up to five years post-Brexit, having the right to apply for permanent residency.

The UK is set to leave the EU by March 2019.

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