Foreign workers plan ignores need for re-training

12.00.00am GMT Wed 30th Jan 2008

Commenting on today's Home Office announcement that companies will pay a £1,000 license fee to hire workers from outside the EU, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"This flat rate plan does nothing to help to re-train British workers in sectors affected by immigration. Far from raising money, under this plan companies like Goldman Sachs could end up paying less while many charities could be hit with an extra charge.

"The Government should instead increase the cost of business work permits based on the applicant's salary, ring-fencing the additional money to re-train British workers"