The Recruitment and Employment Confederation has responded to the government’s Brexit white paper, ‘The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union’.

The White Paper affirms that the UK will leave the European Union on 29 March 2019. In the paper, the government puts forth a detailed proposal for a principled and practical ‘Brexit’.

“Government is determined to build a new relationship that works for both the UK and the EU,” the white paper states. “One which sees the UK leave the Single Market and the Customs Union to seize new opportunities and forge a new role in the world, while protecting jobs, supporting growth and maintaining security cooperation.”

The White Paper makes it clear that the free movement of people will end once the UK leaves the EU.

On employment, the government stated that “existing workers’ rights enjoyed under EU law will continue to be available in UK law on the day of withdrawal.”

The government also proposed the establishment of a free trade area for goods. Whether the proposals in the White Paper will be acceptable to the EU and, eventually gain approval from the British parliament remains uncertain.

“This free trade area would protect the uniquely integrated supply chains and ‘just-in-time’ processes that have developed across the UK and the EU over the last 40 years, and the jobs and livelihoods dependent on them, ensuring businesses on both sides can continue operating through their current value and supply chains,” the White Paper stated. “It would avoid the need for customs and regulatory checks at the border, and mean that businesses would not need to complete costly customs declarations. And it would enable products to only undergo one set of approvals and authorisations in either market, before being sold in both.”

REC chief executive Neil Carberry commented on the White Paper, “There is a pragmatism to this White Paper that is welcome, even at this late hour. Government has taken on board many business concerns about the smooth operation of our economy as we leave the EU.”

‘Recruiters have been clear that Britain needs a comprehensive mobility deal with the EU to support national prosperity,” Carberry said. “The White Paper suggests this may be possible, but it leaves too many questions unanswered.”

“Access to the UK for EU workers after the transition period should be based on coming to make a contribution, not a numerical target,” Carberry said. “Those with a job should be able to work here, plugging labour shortages as record numbers of people are in employment. We want to see eligibility to work attached to individuals rather than through sponsorship with an employer – so people are not tied to a single employer one they are here.”

Separately, today the Office of National Statistics published migration figures which showed that net migration has been broadly stable over the last year. It also showed that the estimated number of EU citizens coming to the UK looking for work continued to decrease over the last year and the number coming to the UK for a definite job has remained stable.

Carberry commented on the figures, “Today’s figures will worry employers who are already struggling to plug the labour and jobs shortages in key sectors. A decrease of available workers will dent UK business, stifle much needed growth and damage our competitiveness in areas such as food and distribution.”

“Employers need clarity,” Carberry said. “A post-Brexit immigration system that allows people to come from the EU and make a contribution could support business and enjoy public support – but it needs to be written into the Brexit deal.”