CompaniesJul 1 2016

CBI says EU workers must be allowed to stay in UK

twitter-iconfacebook-iconlinkedin-iconmail-iconprint-icon
Search supported by
CBI says EU workers must be allowed to stay in UK

The Confederation of British Industry’s director general has demanded the government confirm that workers from the European Union who are already in the UK can stay in the country.

Speaking at the London Evening Standard’s inaugural Business Awards, Carolyn Fairbairn laid out how her organisation saw the aftermath of the UK’s decicion to leave the EU.

She called for calm and decisive leadership, a clear plan for the future and a framework for business and the government to work together.

“A week ago the world changed. As many of you will attest, there is deep, profound concern. But at the same time there is an air of pragmatism - companies in Britain are getting ready to get on with it.

“Business needs government to put aside party politics and lead now,” Ms Fairbairn stated.

The government must confirm that those people from the EU who are already working in the UK can stay; this reassurance must be immediate and it must be unequivocal. Carolyn Fairbairn

“We do have a timetable for a new prime minister. Though this may feel fast in politics, in these circumstances, it’s painfully glacial. The markets and business decisions won’t wait eight weeks.”

She called on the government to inspire confidence and speak directly to investors around the world, sending out a clear message that Britain is still open for business.

“The government should resolve publicly to ensure the preservation of an open economy, we should protect tariff and barrier-free access to the Single Market, we should protect the access business has under existing EU world trade deals, and we need to continue to attract global talent.

“We need to consider how to build a simple, clear immigration system that recognises the concerns of the pubic and still allows firms like these to access the skills they need,” she argued.

In the past six days, the CBI has consulted hundreds of firms and held more than 100 one-to-one meetings with members, according to a statement from the organisation.

In terms of financial services, Ms Fairbairn said it is crucial to keep passporting rights to Europe.

UK-based financial firms currently balance the compliance burden of keeping up with EU-wide regulations, with access to lucrative European markets via trade agreements.

These will be up for negotiation once Article 50 is triggered and two years of negotiations begin between the UK and EU, although until a settlement is reached, all existing rules still apply.

On EU workers being given the right to stay in the UK, Ms Fairbairn stated this was the area that required the most urgent clarity.

“All across London and the UK, there are people who have come from EU countries to make a life for themselves in our country... suddenly, overnight, they find themselves facing a profoundly uncertain future.

“The government must confirm that those people from the EU who are already working in the UK can stay; this reassurance must be immediate and it must be unequivocal.”

peter.walker@ft.com